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Teen-repellent shop siren silenced by rights fears

Web posted at: 3/25/2006 8:46:19
Source ::: Reuters

LONDON: A high-tech alarm audible only to youngsters which has dramatically cut loutish behaviour outside a British shop must be switched off over fears it infringes human rights, police said yesterday.

The Mosquito emits an irritating high-pitched pulse that most people aged under 20 can hear but almost nobody over 30 can.

The Spar grocery shop on Caerlon Road in Newport, south Wales said anti-social behaviour had plunged by 84 percent outside the premises since it was installed earlier this year.

However, human rights concerns have swatted The Mosquito — and stung the shop’s furious managers in the process. “It’s absolutely disgusting,” a spokesman for the shop said.

“These louts can infringe on our rights to run a profitable shop for the community yet we can’t dare infringe on their right to loiter and make life a misery for our shoppers,” the BBC quoted him as saying.

A police spokesman said: “Gwent Police agreed to monitor a trial at a retail premises on Caerleon Road and there was an initial indication that it was successful at deterring anti-social behaviour and was positively received by the local community.

“However, it was decided by the Newport Community Safety Partnership (NCSP) that before endorsing the device, issues concerning health and safety and human rights need to be resolved.”

Play classical music through outside speakers.  Guaranteed teen-repellent.  There's an old story about a convenience store who couldn't get rid of loitering teens until he did that.

Quoted: Play classical music through outside speakers.  Guaranteed teen-repellent.  There's an old story about a convenience store who couldn't get rid of loitering teens until he did that.

Not bad...

Britain is lost.

Quoted: So, what exactly is different between a 20 year olds hearing and someone over 30 that would completely prevent the older person from hearing the noise?

NAtural hearing loss, its probably a very high pitched sound, maybe on the edge of human hearing, so older folks cant hear that frequency unless they have exceptional hearing/ no hearing loss.

so what if a 20 year old needs to buy groceries?

Quoted: so what if a 20 year old needs to buy groceries?

Doesn't matter, this limey asshole just hates youngsters, even those with good intentions.

Quoted: Quoted: Play classical music through outside speakers.  Guaranteed teen-repellent.  There's an old story about a convenience store who couldn't get rid of loitering teens until he did that. Actually, I think they played Perry Como (but it could've been the version of the story I read).

when i worked in deep ellum in dallas, our fine-dining jazz restaurant was next door to the biggest thug club in the area.  we'd have wannabe gang-bangers loitering out front every wekend night.  tried every variation of anti-kid music on our outside speakers.

what worked the best?

italian opera.

Quoted: ...  what worked the best? italian opera.

Now that, beyond a doubt, is a human rights violation.

What next?  Polkas?

Quoted: so what if a 20 year old needs to buy groceries?

You don't buy them at that store or you suffer through the noise.

Is an annoying noise now a human rights violation? If so, I'm suing every wanna-be gansta driving down my street with 27-Cent playing at 200dB.