Mosquito device considered to tackle rowdy youths

8:20am Thursday 4th October 2007

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AN ULTRASONIC device that deters teenagers with a high-pitched noise is being considered for a site in Yate plagued with anti-social behaviour.

Yate Town Council has agreed to investigate placing the 'Mosquito' device in Millside Play Zone, in Brimsham, after an action group of nearby residents proposed the idea.

The group says the high-tech device could disperse large gangs of youths who gather at the park late at night.

A member of the action group, who did not want to be named, told the Gazette that the neighbourhood was suffering from disturbance caused by the youths.

He said: "On weekends and week nights we often hear large groups of people at the park screaming and shouting at each other, sometimes quite aggressively, right into the early hours of the morning.

"And when we wake up we find glass in the play area, eggs on cars in the street and rubbish left around everywhere. We are at our wits' end.

"Police can't be there all the time and some of us wouldn't dare go out there.

"It seems the only solution to this is the Mosquito device. I have heard good reports of it being used elsewhere, so yes, why not give it a trial."

Yate Town Council has started locking the park's car park gates at night in an attempt to tackle the problem.

But youths responded by locking the gate open on one occasion and leaving notes saying "You will not beat us" on the site.

The council is currently setting up a meeting between the Safer South Gloucestershire team, police representatives and residents to discuss the issue.

Cllr Ian Blair (Yate West) said: "The Mosquito device is something members of the public brought up and is something we will look into.

"If it is found to work and is available then we may look to give it a trial."

Chipping Sodbury Sector Sergeant Andy McIlrath said he would support a proposal for the Mosquito device.

He said: "As long as the device was turned on at suitable times and was not detrimental to genuine play area users, we would encourage its use.

"It is of interest to us to see how the device would work and if it deterred the youths.

"The site does attract large groups of teenagers and we are aware of the associated problems to the local area."