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Parish uses Mosquito to deter young loiterers

by Ed Beavan


ST MARK’S, in Marske-by-the-Sea, Teesside, is thought to be one of the first parishes in the country to use a Mosquito ultrasonic device to deter anti-social behaviour by young people.

Parishioners decided to install the device, which sends out a high-pitched whine only audible to teenagers, after experiencing problems with a group of young people gathering in the church porch.

The Vicar of St Mark’s, the Revd David Lambert, said that in the day there were no problems, but at night youths had been congregating there, drinking and engaging in petty vandalism.

Initial results have proved successful. “It does appear to be doing its job,” Mr Lambert said, although he stressed that it was early days.

The use of the Mosquito to deter young people from congregating has divided opinion. Earlier this year the Children’s Commissioner for England, Sir Al Aynsley-Green, called for the devices to be banned, as he believed they infringed the rights of children.


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