What Message Are We Sending to Young People? ask Lib Dems

10.16.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 20th Jun 2008

Liberal Democrat Janet Godden was disappointed that her motion raising concerns about the use of the electronic "mosquito" device to disperse groups of teenagers from public places was thrown out by the Tories at yesterday's Council meeting.

Janet said, "Mosquitos emit a noise audible only to young people. They have been controversial from the beginning. They certainly work. But they come with serious drawbacks.

"They do nothing to solve the long-term problem of teenage nuisance and even in the short term they merely move groups on to re-form elsewhere. Once switched on they affect all young people within range, from small children accompanied by adults to teenagers waiting at a bus stop or talking with friends. They are not regulated and their use cannot be reliably monitored. This blanket electronic targeting builds up resentment among young people, and sends entirely the wrong message about treating others with respect and handling conflicts of interest in shared spaces. Some county councils have already voted to ban them from their premises, or premises leased by them, and many senior professionals in children's services think that there should be a national ban on their use.

I was asking the Cabinet to use its influence in local partnerships to get a higher priority given by all agencies to investment in constructive longer term solutions to the problem of teenage anti-social behaviour across the county. Of course it would be expensive, but today's teenagers are tomorrow's adults and investment in preventive measures is essential. Mosquitos are a step in the wrong direction and can only lead to a souring of community relations. I am very disappointed, if not entirely surprised, at the Tories refusal to consider my motion."