Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood has raised concerns over the use of the high-pitched Mosquito sound system as part of efforts to reduce vandalism at schools in Cardiff.
The South Wales Central AM spoke out after it was revealed that 316 incidents of vandalism at city schools since April 1st, 2007, had cost £440,000.
The authority told Leanne Wood that measures it had taken to prevent vandalism included the installation of the Mosquito, CCTV, fencing, shutter doors, intruder alarms and emergency lighting. It did not list where the mosquito system had been put in.
But Leanne Wood said that she was disturbed at the use of the high frequency sound deterrent which can only be heard by people under 25.
Leanne Wood said: “I am very concerned at the high levels and cost of vandalism and I support measures which attempts to reduce it, such as alarms and emergency lighting. But I am concerned about the installation of the discriminatory Mosquito around schools.
“The key issue with the Mosquito is that they target all young people under 25, whether they are causing a nuisance or perhaps just walking by. I understand there are concerns about the long-term impact of them on young people’s hearing.
“I also don’t believe it is going to deter vandals and there are clearly alternatives which I believe local authorities should make use of rather than use the Mosquito. There are always reasons why young people get involved in criminality and it is often because they have got nothing to do. Attempts to engage young people in a range of activities would have a greater and lasting impact on crime levels.”
The Children’s Commissioner for England and the National Autistic Society has called for the Mosquito to be banned and campaign group Liberty has attacked their use.
In the same period vandalism at schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf cost more than £56,000 and more than £63,000 in the Vale of Glamorgan.
