The Mosquito a device used to stop people from loitering in use in the UK

The Mosquito-From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
The Mosquito or Mosquito alarm (marketed as the Beethoven in France and the Swiss-Mosquito in Switzerland) is an electronic device which emits an ultrasonic sound, similar to the buzz of a mosquito (approximately 17.4 kHz at 85dB)[1][clarification needed]. The device is typically heard by people less than 25 years of age because the ability to hear high frequencies deteriorates in humans with age (a phenomenon known as presbycusis).

The device is marketed as a safety and security tool for preventing anti-social behaviour such as gang loitering which has been publicly associated with graffiti, vandalism, drug usage, drug distribution, and violence. In the UK, over 3000 have been sold, mainly for use outside shops and near transport hubs.[2] The device is also being sold in Australia, Canada and the USA.[3]

The Mosquito has attracted controversy on the basis of human rights. Critics say that using the Mosquito is discrimination against young people and that the device infringes their human rights. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that making the Mosquito illegal would infringe the human rights of shopkeepers who suffer business losses when "unruly teenagers" drive away their customers.[4] Mosquito distributors have said that they employ standards to ensure that the device is not abused and the Welsh inventor of the device, Howard Stapleton, has asked European governments to legislate guidelines governing its use.[3]

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[hypodemon]

omg we teenagers get soo much discrimination we get setro-typed and treated badly beacause a small minority are idots. We all have to suffer that horrid sound its unfair how were treated beacuase of our age im 15 and i think its unfair

[Charlottex99]

Argh jesus! Thats just inhuman!

[ca3rine]

Horrible horrible sound, makes me just want to smash something if I've been forced to immerse in that sound for more than 1 min... It actually induce violence...

[xtofury]

boycott the hell out of mcdonalds they put em on their locations here in victoria bc

[HordrissTheConfuser]

I'm nearly 28 years old.

I am a student teacher.

I can hear this, and it is horrible.

[Sliptodance]

@vloplob I don't like the one used over the 5 days of UK riots which stimulates the youth and mobilizes them and creates an avaricious weapon that can be deployed against commercial targets to take down society. ;-D

[vloplob]

if i were in london these days, i would be glad to got one of these ;)

[hptriogal]

meh... I'm 17 (since a lot of people are throwing their ages out there) and really don't mind the sound at all. Blast it in my ear, I don't care. I've heard worse. Besides, I don't loiter; it's a waste of precious time that could be used to live life.

[mrdojob]

Its fucking horrible. Im from south wales where this device was invented and i am yet to see a shop that don't abuse the device. They just leave it on constantly even tho 99% of the time they don't need to use it. Within weeks of it being released i want it banned due to mass abuse.

[R3loaded8]

Secondly you cant say that is not harmful while you are doing MASSIVE damage on people hearing!! If I find your device anywhere I will sue them and you as well! In order to be audible at 35-40 meter as you are referring it should be EXTREMELY loud thus making PERMANENT damage to anyone who listens to is let alone the PROLONGED EXPOSURE as proudly, because of your retardness, you state!! That device is only harmless to deaf people or to people who are used to go in heavy-metal festivals!

[R3loaded8]

This device is totally and utterly garbage. This theory is extremely harmful because the device destroys people's hearing! Firstly 17khz sounds only audible by people less than 25 years old?? Whats your source your 6 year old son?? You cant tell people stuff that are not true you know.. Also you cant OVERGENERALIZE by saying stuff like that! Your theory is based on peoples hearing digression which has a million factors which obviously cant guess!

[warrat300]

What the fuck, I would kill any idiot who would bring it to my town. I fucking would just to piss them off.