Kent onSunday : YourShepway (etc) 18/6 (The midweek freepaper)
www.kentonsunday.co.uk


page 11. Mosquito to buzz off after debate.

Kent Youth County Council (KYCC) members have been praised by local authority chiefs for their role in helping ban the use of so-called Mosquito devices.

The devices- which emit high-frequency sounds which can only be heard by those under 25- are used to prevent youngsters gathering outside public buildings.

But Kent County Council has confirmed tit is amonmg one of the first authorities in the UK to ban them from its sites.

Since their introduction in Jan 2006, they have be installed across the country in more than 3500 locations.

KYCC memmbers were invited to debate the isssue with KCC's cabinet earlier this year by Mike Hill, the councillor responsible for community services.

At a full county council meeting in May, it was agreed that KCC would ban the use of the device and it would lobby central government for a national ban. This is on the grounds that they infringe young people's rights and target all young people, regardless of how they are behaving.

It was also felt that their use " contradicts the authority's duty to represent young people and listen to and respect their views".

Cllr Hill said : I am grateful to KYCC members for helping to debate this issue. These devices are abhorrent and give completelty the wrong message to young people. The noise may result in youngsters moving away when there is no need for them to do so because they are causing no harm. I am grateful for the strong views of KYCC which informed the county council debate and the decision that was taken. This istestament to how seriously we take this isse and how important it is that our young people are listened to".

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