Council of Europe assembly votes to ban use of Mosquito dispersal devices
Joe Lepper
Friday, June 25, 2010
Councils are set to be banned from using Mosquito devices to disperse young people, following a landmark ruling by the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly.
Members unanimously backed a recommendation made by Polish European People’s Party member Piotr Wach calling on all local authorities and governments in Europe to ban their use.
A report presented to members by Wach had said that such devices are "neither politically acceptable nor consistent with the safeguarding of fundamental human rights".
"For these reasons, legislative measures should be taken throughout Europe against the marketing of such devices and their use in public places should be banned," it added.
The report was also concerned about the health implications of the devices, which give out an unpleasant, high frequency sound.
It said: "The physical impact of high-frequency sounds on children and young people still lacks adequate medical research; this is of concern."
UK children’s rights campaigners, such as the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) and the Children’s Society, have been calling for a ban for a number of years.
Carolyne Willow, CRAE’s national co-ordinator, was delighted with the decision. She said: "It tells you something about our culture that sales of this device have been highest in the UK and no former minister made any attempt to bring forward legislation to protect children and young people from businesses and public authorities conspiring to keep them away from public spaces and facilities."
The decision by the parliamentary assembly has to be approved by Europe's Committee of Ministers before a ban can be put in place. This process could take up to six months.
CRAE has now written to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to urge him not to wait and include a provision in the forthcoming Freedom Bill to ban them.
A report presented to members by Wach had said that such devices are "neither politically acceptable nor consistent with the safeguarding of fundamental human rights".
"For these reasons, legislative measures should be taken throughout Europe against the marketing of such devices and their use in public places should be banned," it added.
The report was also concerned about the health implications of the devices, which give out an unpleasant, high frequency sound.
It said: "The physical impact of high-frequency sounds on children and young people still lacks adequate medical research; this is of concern."
UK children’s rights campaigners, such as the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) and the Children’s Society, have been calling for a ban for a number of years.
Carolyne Willow, CRAE’s national co-ordinator, was delighted with the decision. She said: "It tells you something about our culture that sales of this device have been highest in the UK and no former minister made any attempt to bring forward legislation to protect children and young people from businesses and public authorities conspiring to keep them away from public spaces and facilities."
The decision by the parliamentary assembly has to be approved by Europe's Committee of Ministers before a ban can be put in place. This process could take up to six months.
CRAE has now written to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to urge him not to wait and include a provision in the forthcoming Freedom Bill to ban them.
