We test opinions on York’s mosquito alarms

THE mosquitoes do seem to be working. As their name implies, the devices emit an irritating high-pitched whining sound.

What makes them special is that the noise can only be heard by younger people, generally speaking those aged under 24.

That is because as we get older, our ability to hear very high frequency noises diminishes.

This, realised inventor Howard Stapleton, made the mosquitoes ideal for driving away unwanted groups of teenagers.

On one website they are known as "teen tormentors".

Now, they are spreading across the UK, being used by shopkeepers who are fed up with groups of teens hanging around outside their shops, driving away customers and bothering others by asking them to buy booze and cigarettes.

There are already at least three in York - the Co-op in Tang Hall Lane, and Spar stores in The Groves and Huntington Road - and one in Selby.

If reports are true, they have been working. "They teenagers can't stand the noise. It's definitely proved to be successful," the deputy manager of one shop said.

But are the mosquitoes a legitimate method of moving on gangs of rowdy teenagers, or something more sinister - an unfair symptom of the appalling attitude we have in this country towards the younger generation?

Eddie Benson, of the Haxby and Wigginton Youth and Community Association, certainly believes the latter.

"We have an appalling attitude towards young people in this country," he says. "There was a report a few months ago that said we were the worst in Europe at looking after our young people. This does worry me."

Of course, one or two young people do cause problems, Eddie admits - nobody would deny that. But to tar all youngsters with the same brush and regard them collectively with fear and distrust is wrong.

Most young people simply get on with their lives without causing problems for anyone.

Eddie fears that we are moving gradually and inexorably towards a Russian-style Big Brother approach to dealing with problems - and that the mosquitoes are just the latest example of that.

"There must be better ways of dealing with young people," he says.

Tom Gibson, chairman of the Tang Hall Residents' Association, admits he can understand Eddie's concerns. "But I can also see that we need to do something to deal with the trouble-making element," he said. "I can see why the owners of properties and shops want to do something."

On balance, Mr Gibson believes shops which have been plagued by youths are justified in trying the devices.

"I think in the case of the Co-op in Tang Hall they are justified in doing whatever they can," he says. "They have had real problems, with individuals smashing up the cashpoint and the windows."

His own 16-year-old daughter Christine has no problem with the mosquito, Mr Gibson adds. "She doesn't feel discriminated against. So I think this is worth trying."

Tom Metcalfe, the manager of the Spar in Lowther Street, The Groves, admits he was sceptical about the mosquito when first told about it by Spar bosses.

"But if you have got a group of people outside causing trouble and you switch it on, it does deter them," he said.

Some people weren't too happy at the idea, he admits. "But other customers have said they can now come in without being abused by a group of kids. You can never please everybody in life. But we are trying to keep customers happy."

Most of the time now, the shop has little trouble with teenagers, Tom says. That means that much of the time, the mosquito can be switched off. It is only on when it needs to be, he says - and he has a vested interest in making sure it stays that way.

At 26, he is still young enough to hear it. "And it does get annoying if you're there for a while."

Sergeant Mike Walker, of York police, says the mosquito is now being used "across the city".

It was designed to stop groups of youths congregating outside shops, he said. "It is a tool that we do use for areas where we have a persistent problem with young people hanging around and causing antisocial behaviour - ie around shops in the city centre."

And does it work?

"When we did put it in certain places in the city I did notice that the number of reports from members of the public about youths congregating and causing problems did reduce."

The students

HAYLEY Stenson is indignant.

"You only have to walk down the street with other kids and you get funny looks, as though you're doing something wrong," the 17-year-old York College student says.

"You could be on your way to a charity to do something good - they don't know."

"It's the whole thing about stereotyping," agrees Cerys Giles, also 17 and studying for a national diploma in health and social care. "Because you're 17 or 18, people look at you as trouble, when you're not. It's sad."

The students, from various areas of York and Selby, have gathered together to discuss the latest device aimed at moving on gangs of troublesome teens - the mosquito.

Some of them, including Cerys, from Selby, have heard the device in action.

"There's one in my street. You can hear it all the time, even when you're walking past," she says. "It's like a constant buzzing noise."

Others haven't. All agree, however, that the use of the mosquitoes provides further proof of the way in which modern British society seems to be growing increasingly scared of its young people.

Yes, says Richard Craven, a 17-year-old from Thorpe Willoughby, near Selby, who is studying for A-levels in geography, geology, history and English, he does like to hang out with his mates in the evenings sometimes.

"You do hang around in groups," he says. "You want to be with all your mates, not sitting at home by yourself."

But that doesn't mean all groups of young people are out to cause trouble, he says. "You're just out for a good laugh."

Society exaggerates the extent to which groups of teenagers are a problem, he believes.

"A lot of older people say they are scared. But at the end of the day, they probably hung out with their mates when they were young."

The teenagers are used to being moved on and looked at with suspicion when they are doing nothing wrong, they say.

Andrew Lynn, 17, who is studying A-level law, history and business, says whenever he is in town, there will always be police driving around.

"If you sit around for long enough, a police car will come and move you," he says.

He doesn't see anything wrong with that, if it is done in the right way. "But when I was younger, we would sit around in the park, and you'd get a police car coming up and moving you on.

"If it was outside a shop, that's understandable. But in a public place."

All agree that there are some teen gangs who are troublemakers. They just don't think it is fair that all teenagers get tarred with the same brush.

"One person will do something wrong, and 100 of us will get the blame," Richard says.

They can understand why some shopkeepers are tempted to use the mosquito.

"If I owned a shop and there was a bunch of people hanging around outside stopping people coming in and intimidating people, I would be annoyed," Andrew says.

"It annoys me and I don't own a shop!" Cerys interjects.

"But there has got to be a better way," Andrew says.

The automatic assumption that a group of teenagers is out to cause trouble is also offensive, says Hayley, a performing arts student.

That in itself could have consequences.

"I know a lot of lads that would be offended by being called a trouble-maker, and then might do damage because of that," she says.

"There may be a bit of a backlash," Dave Rees, a 24-year-old who is studying hairdressing, agrees.

"Let's face it, the people they are targeting gangs of troublemakers, as opposed to decent teenagers don't have many brains anyway."

Using a mosquito might harm shopkeepers' business in another way, warns 17-year-old Emily Wolf, from Riccall, who is studying for A levels in Biology, English, business and geography.

"It isn't going to be good for business, is it?" she says. "I can see younger people avoiding shops because of this!"

Rachael Clegg spoke to shoppers in Tang Hall to find out what they think of the mosquito

Stephanie Harding, a chemistry student at the University of York: "I can see how it's a good idea as I can imagine how a lot of the kids would intimidate older people. There are plenty of places they could go other than standing outside a shop."

Mr Nicholson, from Stockton Lane: "I think it's a good idea. There's a lot of bother round here, but then again the kids have go nothing to do. Sometimes I feel sorry for them because they're not all bad."

Gayle Forshaw, 25, from Acomb: "I don't think it will work. All aspects of the idea are stupid - kids are going to be kids and they'll be where they want to be."

Jenny Greenall, a van driver who lives in Bishopthorpe Road: "If it's going to keep children away it needs to be louder - if a group of teenagers are here it won't be loud enough. If they want to hang around here they will. On hearing the sound outside the shop she added It is annoying."

Philip Torrance, 67, a Tang Hall resident since 1958: "I have no problem with it being there - I just have a problem with it being advertised."