Loitering Dutch Youths Given Headaches

(Rotterdam, Netherlands) A device called the Mosquito emits an annoying sound in the frequency range where it can typically be heard only by people under the age of 25.

Consequently, the Mosquito is used as a "teen repellent" to discourage youths from loitering on the streets and engaging in anti-social behavior.

According to 10-year-old Mohammed,

"It sucks! It gives me a headache. It's like when you've been listening to loud music for a long time and then you stop," he says. "This buzzing sound."

Mohammed's friends Ercan, Anass and Nordin agree but some youths say they have gotten used to it. Nevertheless, the do-gooder crowd and the Socialist Party are strongly opposed to the Mosquitos.

Social worker Jan Schellekens opines,

"All it does is move the problem," she says. "Young offenders are forced even more underground so that they are even harder to reach. And there is so little for the kids to do anyway. They don't have a place to go except the street. And now they are being chased off the street."

Notice that Schellenkens calls the youths "young offenders" which is still less than completely descriptive of a demographic group of potential trouble-makers but more so than can usually be expected from the mainstream media. Given its inclination to "take it to the streets" and cause chaos, the Socialist Party Youth Organization wants a national ban on Mosquitos.

Dutch Interior Minister Guusje ter Horst is also opposed to the Mosquitos and suggests that they may be unconstitutional, although their legality has not yet been challenged in court. Even so, the Mosquito controversy has prompted authorities to put a moratorium on new units until a plan for control is worked out.

In any event, police and local authorities are pleased with the Mosquitos, saying complaints of intimidation and vandalism have been reduced by 70 to 80 percent.

On the market for a couple of years, the Mosquito was invented by British security consultant Howard Stapleton. Mr. Stapleton tested the Mosquito on his own children before settling on an unbearable, pulsating tone at 75 decibels which is within government limits.

"I didn't want to make it hurt. It just has to nag at them," he said.

"It's very difficult to shoplift when you have your fingers in your ears."

Heh.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.