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Anti-teenager device disappoints group
Tuesday 15th December 2009, 8:41AM GMT.
South Shropshire Youth Forum has said it is disappointed by proposals to use electronic devices that emit unpleasant noises high-pitched noises to combat anti-social behaviour.
The gadgets, known as Mosquitoes, create high-pitched sounds that only younger people can hear.
They have been in use at the Harry Tuffins store in Craven Arms for five months and more could be installed if refurbishment plans for the store get the go ahead.
Richard Morley, of South Shropshire Youth Forum said: “Obviously we understand that the store wants to create a comfortable environment for people to shop in and it’s a shame some young people cause problems.
“However, it’s disappointing that we’ve reached a stage where devices like this can be used to discriminate against younger people.
“In this country, we don’t invest in young people enough.
“I don’t think young people actively want to hang around in public places, but very often there is little else for them to do.”
Mr Morley said money could be better spent in engaging with young people and providing facilities for them to use.
Harry Tuffins announced £500,000 plans for developing its Craven Arms store this week.
The plans included a covered walkway which residents said could become a hotspot for trouble.
Richard Whittall, operations director for Tuffins, said customers had had abuse yelled at them by youths outside the store before it introduced the Mosquitoes. He said it would consider installing more of the devices in future if necessary.
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They’ll be putting them on leads next..
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These young people are present or future potential customers or staff members. If you can afford to spend money to deter them then perhaps you should also invest in them by donating to local youth services – the Harry Tuffin pool table or some such?
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Surely this is against the Disability laws?
I mean, surely disabled people with guide/assistance dogs are effected?
How do the dogs feel about this high pitch noise?
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This is a result of local councils and parish councils ignoring their responsiblilities to young people for two decades now. Easy to cut, easy restore the town horse-trough instead because it looks better!
What have they to do? I think the loss of evening opening cafes, milk-bars etc as well as Youth clubs not being required spending by authorities – these are the after effects. (you prefer to keep your tax-money I guess!). Reap what you sow!
I can’t blame the shop, the chances are that more customers are lost when it gets a name for bad behaviour outside like one place Telford a few years ago where parking and getting to the entrance just put people off going. Society is gradually forgetting what investing for the future means.
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Needless employment of technology. Just play them the ’1812 Overture’ or similar and you won’t see them for dust. The dogs won’t panic either.
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Peter, I’d like an explanation as to how “giving them a pool table” will stop these yobs from abusing customers at Harry Tuffin’s. I’m sick and tired of the “they’ve got nothing to do” excuse for kids bad behaviour. It’s part of today’s youth culture. You see it everywhere because they have no standards and know they can get away with it. Blame it on yobbish parents who can’t be bothered to bring them up and a state that has given up on punishing criminals. Basically, they need a good thrashing – not expensive gifts.
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“nothing for them to do”
“we don’t invest in young people enough.”
well the public library is very empty whenever I go there. why not pop in and get a nice book to read?
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With regard to “I’d like an explanation as to how “giving them a pool table” will stop these yobs from abusing customers at Harry Tuffin’s.”
I did not say that it would stop yobs from abusing customers, but yobs are also customers – alcopops, cider, sweets, food for the next generation of yobs, etc. I don’t think that a business should penalise any particular group of customers. Anti-social behaviour is a police and parent matter.
Would it not reflect better on Tuffins to be seen to be promoting local ammenities rather than using these devices to move the yobs on to other locations where they might be even more nuiscance to the local community?
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Teach em some respect, bring back the birch………i remember when all this was fields..
I suppose if you automaticly assume any teenager in a shop is a thug and a criminal then he/she will start to act like one.
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I think this is disgraceful. There always has been an element of anti social youths and adults, nothing is any different to previous generations.
Burning down of church building in Belle Vue date … 1943.
Demolition of Sundorne Castle folly … 1940s.
Street fighting Mods and Rockers… 1950s.
Skinheads… 1960s
Any baby in a pushchair will be annoyed by this sound so I presume tat is another group of customers who may choose to shop elsewhere.
My neighbour across the road had one of these products as a cat scarer a few yeras ago and my children were driven mad by the noise when they were trying to study for exams. I could only just hear it myself and the matter ws resoved when someone stole it much to the relief of my kids.
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Eva, i totally agree. It’s always been the same, kids are no different, but they have lost their youth clubs, playing fields and entertainment like the cinema is now to expense for them. Give them somewhere better to hang out and the problem will go away.
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Why can’t these kids stay at home playing violent computer games like normal kids?
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