Row over home 'anti-teen' device

The device has been used to combat anti-social behaviour

A council and police are looking into complaints after a householder installed a device usually put in by shops to disperse young people.

Colin Martin of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, said he bought the gadget - known as the Mosquito - because of anti-social behaviour in the area.

But neighbours in Cadoxton claim it is switched on early in the morning and is disturbing sleeping children.

The company which manufactures the device says it might remove it.

The Mosquito emits a high-pitched sound which causes discomfort to those with sensitive hearing and it is supposed to be above the normal hearing range for most people after they hit their twenties.

It is made by Compound Security Systems (CSS) of Abercynon, Cynon Valley, and hit the headlines after the children's commissioners for England and Scotland and human rights group Liberty said it infringed the rights of young people.

But the device is popular with some shopkeepers, including the manager of a Spar in Barry who has been using a Mosquito to disperse gangs of youths.

This noise can be heard all over my house and half way down the street Dawn Phillips

Speaking to the South Wales Echo, Mr Martin said children had been kicking the wall of his house with balls and his wife was "distraught".

"Nobody could have put up with it," he said.

"I read about the Mosquito in the paper and I'd been having terrible trouble, so it just clicked. I haven't had a problem since putting it up."

But mother-of-four Dawn Phillips, who lives next door with three of her children and her husband Wayne, said there were no problems with anti-social behaviour in the area and the Mosquito was disturbing her children.

"At first it was switched on 24/7. My little boy can hear it in his bedroom and he could not sleep," she said.

"We had to send him to his auntie's house.

"I'm 38 and I can hear it. This noise can be heard all over my house and half way down the street."

Mrs Phillips said while the Mosquito was no longer switched on all the time, it would be activated in the early hours of the morning and for long periods of time.

Vale of Glamorgan Council operations manager Kate Thompson said it had received complaints from a number of residents.

Mr Martin is entitled to the peaceful use of his own property as is everyone in that neighbourhood Simon Morris, Compound Security Systems

"[The council] is currently investigating whether the noise is a statutory nuisance," she said.

Insp Andy Rice said South Wales Police did not support the use of the device because it could affect young people who were not causing any problems.

"Whilst Mr Martin has made three reports of anti-social behaviour involving young people in the area in the last 12 months, the community has not raised anti-social behaviour in the street as a particular concern," he said.

"We have received complaints about the device since its installation which we are currently investigating."

Simon Morris, commercial director of Compound Security Systems, said it was aware of the issue and would take advice from the environmental health department before taking any action.

"Mr Martin is entitled to the peaceful use of his own property as is everyone in that neighbourhood," he said.

"We only sell Mosquitos to private individuals if they have obtained police approval and can prove they have suffered from anti-social behaviour. Mr Martin provided us with this evidence.

"Obviously people with Mosquitos should use them responsibly. If we feel Mr Martin has been using his device irresponsibly we will take the side of the environmental health people and get it taken down and provide Mr Martin with a full refund."