Rowdy youths in Tarxien are being dispersed by a controversial electrical device that opponents describe as discriminatory and harmful.
Inflicting acoustic pain on young people and treating them as if they were unwanted pests is harmful
Tarxien council fitted a ‘Mosquito’ device in Ovindoli Garden several months ago as part of its trumpeted neighbourhood watch scheme.
The device emits a high-pitched noise that can only be heard by people under of the age of 25, as the ability to hear high frequencies deteriorates with age.
Its irritating sound is supposed to be effective in forcing gangs of youths to move away from the area.
A Tarxien council spokesman told The Sunday Times the device was operated by a member of the neighbourhood watch team “only in extreme circumstances when youths start being too noisy”.
But a report by the Council of Europe released in 2010 said the use of Mosquito devices was not “consistent with the safeguard of fundamental human rights”, such as the rights to private life or freedom of assembly, and it could constitute degrading treatment.
“Inflicting acoustic pain on young people and treating them as if they were unwanted birds or pests is harmful and highly offensive,” the report said.
The Council of Europe voted in favour of banning the use and marketing of the Mosquito in June 2010, though it has no powers to enforce a ban within the EU.
It is thought around 3,500 Mosquito devices are in use in the UK, where they were invented in 2005, and have been the source of much debate there.
Banning the device was discussed in the Scottish Parliament as recently as February, when youth parliament member Andrew Deans told MPs: “If it wouldn’t be allowed against any other group, it shouldn’t be allowed against us (young people).”
Nevertheless, many shopkeepers and residents in areas blighted by youth crime in the UK have hailed the devices as successful.
There have also been claims that the ultrasonic sound poses health risks to children, particularly infants.
“With the sound levels that can be reached by the device, the onset of dizziness, headache, nausea and impairment is to be expected,” according to a report by the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Tarxien council bought its device from the UK. It did not say how much it paid, but The Sunday Times found them available on the internet for around £600 (€742).
The council spokesman said it did not need permission from the police to import, install and operate the device.
No residents have complained about its use, the spokesman added.
Questions sent to the Home Affairs Ministry asking for its position on the use of the device and whether it was aware of other councils using it remain unanswered.
pcooke@timesofmalta.com