MEP launches Euro-campaign against 'Mosquitos'

1.44.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th May 2008

London's Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has today launched a campaign in the European Parliament to ban Mosquito devices used to disperse allegedly troublesome teenagers. Using technology originally designed to scare away vermin, the 'Mosquito' emits a very high frequency buzzing sound which supposedly cannot be heard by people over the age of 25. In the UK, 3,500 have been deployed, often by shops.

Sarah Ludford has tabled in conjunction with a French and a Dutch MEP a written declaration (similar to a Commons Early Day Motion) which denounces the use of 'Mosquitos' as a breach of fundamental rights and calls on the European Commission to promote a ban on sale and use of these devices on the grounds that they are designed specifically to distress and annoy young people.

Sarah Ludford said:

"It is time to call a halt to the drift into demonisation of young people. I am pleased that the campaign against these discriminatory devices, which treat young people as no more than pests, is being taken onto a European platform. This is justified in the light of the fact that usage which began in Britain is spreading to the Continent, while all EU states are bound by common human rights obligations."

"Astonishingly, while these devices are deliberately designed to be unpleasant, no research has been done into possible harm caused by 'Mosquitos' to the hearing or health of youngsters or adults."

"It is a mark of how low we have sunk in attitudes to kids that this is allowed to go on. It would not happen to any other group in society. A loudspeaker which only shouted abuse at men, black people or old people would not be tolerated for a moment."

"Mosquito devices are not an effective or long-term solution to anti-social behaviour or crime. The answer is traditional policing, with more police and community support officers on the streets. Young people should not be harassed by electronic buzzing but given firm guidance and supportive discipline as well as opportunities to socialise."

The written declaration, which specifically asks the European Commission to promote a ban on the sales of mosquito devices, must gather a majority of MEP signatures (393 out of 785) in order for it to be adopted by the European Parliament and sent by its President to the other EU institutions and national parliaments for their consideration. The full text can be read at:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P6-DCL-2008-0040+0+DOC+WORD+V0//EN&language=EN

Sarah Ludford has actively campaigned on this issue and has tabled a previous parliamentary question, see:

http://www.sarahludfordmep.org.uk/news/001029/sarah_and_london_lib_dems_stand_up_to_intrusive_mosquito_alarms.html

A Buzz Off campaign against mosquios is being run by Liberty (of which she is a Council member), the Children's Commissioner for England and others, see:

http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/young-peoples-rights/stamp-out-the-mosquito.shtml

The Co-op recently agreed to withdraw 'mosquito' devices from its stores after complaints that the noise severely affected people with autism. More information about this story can be found here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/may/04/supermarkets.retail1