Will high-pitched deterrent work?

Could this gadget stop vandalism problems at Fairfield Secondary School?

A device to discourage bad behaviour, known as a Mosquito, could be installed at a Bristol school to cut down on incidents of bad behaviour.

Fairfield High School in Horfield may be the first school in the city to use the gadgets.

They emit a high-pitched sound which is only audible to youths and, according to the firm that makes them, is a "simple, effective" way of stopping vandals.

But will they cut down on problems if they are installed around the school playing field?

Simon Morris from Compound Security, who make the devices, told BBC Bristol a school in Devon has already had success with them.

"One very good example of a similar nature is Woodlands Primary School in Plymouth where they were experiencing, across the summer holidays, every year around £55,000 of vandalism.

MOSQUITO DEVICE Devices cost between £300-£500 each Uses high-frequency sound that only youths can hear Noise is not audible to most people aged over 25 Has a range of between 30 and 40 metres Have been used by shop owners and railways in the past Manufacuters claim dogs can hear but "are not bothered" by noise

"They installed 16 Mosquitos at the beginning of August last year and they've had no vandalism at all since.

"It doesn't pose any health affects to humans or animals and is just a very simple, effective and benign way of keeping people out of certain areas. They're used by business, the police, across the UK."

Anna Fairclough from human rights campaign group Liberty said she doubted they would mean an end to any trouble.

"If you're a determined vandal and you want to cause trouble an annoying noise is not going to keep you away.

"Part of the problem is people on motorbikes as well... the sound of the motorbikes would easily drown out the sound of the Mosquito."

Ms Fairclough added that the Mosquito would indiscriminately target all youths - even those not out to cause problems.

"What we think is a more fundamental problem is that this device works on the assumption that the presence of all the young people is bad.

"It doesn't merely target those who are likely to cause trouble."

George Muirhead from Woodfield Primary School in Plymouth said installing the device at his school has cut down on problems.

"We had a problem with young people... once they get together in groups they 'gee' each other up

"Because they were hanging around a lot and also drinking on the site then we were suffering from a lot of arson, broken glass, graffiti, inappropriate sexual activity.

"Our children have human rights as well - they have the right to come to school without seeing that, particularly after weekends."

Residents living near the school were split on whether the devices would deter youths from climbing over the school fence.

One told BBC Bristol that there are "a lot of people that go in there until late at night".

"There's been times when you've seen children in there camping overnight. You get the motorbikes down there, they've been trying for ages to secure that place."

But another defended the youths saying many just want to have a kick-about.

"A group of my friends, aged around 24, 25, climb over that fence all the time to play football. Not really doing anything untoward - just having a game of football, young lads playing a game on astroturf."

BBC Bristol has been in contact with both Fairfield School and the police a number of times for comment but they have so far not responded.

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It is clear that there is a need to deter teenagers from loitering and causing trouble. However, from personal experience, they can be painful and uncomfortable on the ears and will only irritate the people who are currently causing trouble. They do come with cages around them but I don't think that they will be protected and frankly, they won't last.
Laura, 18, Bristol

Back some 25 years ago, when I was still at school, we had an equally effective device, it was called good parenting. I fail to see why we, as a society, spend so much time, money and effort at solving a problem that stems from overall bad parental methods. Perhaps if we put as much time, money and effort into ensuring that those who take on the responsibility of being parents do more than just conceive.
Martin, Bristol

What do you think of Fairfield School's plan to install mosquito devices? Will it cut vandalism out at the school? How would you deal with the problem?

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