A CONTROVERSIAL sonic device aimed at stopping youths from loitering at Dunfermline Bus Station is set to be removed.

The ‘mosquito’, which emits a high-frequency noise normally only audible to under-25s, is currently not in operation but was put in place around five years ago as part of efforts to stamp out trouble in the area.

At today’s (Thursday) full meeting of Fife Council, education and children’s services spokesperson, Councillor Faye Sinclair, was due to table a motion calling for a Fife-wide ban on what she says are “unjust” devices.

She said mosquitos can cause considerable distress to all young people and treats them as nuisances regardless of their behaviour.

“They are indiscriminate and have negative effects on all those who can hear the irritating and often unbearable noise they emit, particularly babies and people with autism,” she said.

“Basically they are boxes installed up in buildings and they emit a high pitched frequency so it is only supposed to be audible to people under the age of 25.

“The idea being is that it moves young people on so they are not hanging around or causing anti-social behaviour.

“That’s why it was installed at the bus station because of issues that have been there but my problem is it doesn’t target those causing the trouble.

“It sends the message that young people are a nuisance in general and we don’t want to send out that message.”

She added: “We have got so many young people in our community who set a good example and to target them as part of this device – which doesn’t distinguish between good behaviour and bad behaviour but punishes people because of their age – is appalling.”

Cllr Sinclair decided to bring the motion before full council after hearing of work being carried out by members of the Scottish Youth Parliament who want a national ban on the devices.

They say the mosquito fails to tackle the root causes of anti-social behaviour and can have impacts on children beyond their hearing, potentially causing nausea, dizziness and pain, as well as affecting children’s sense of balance.

“I was happy to give my backing to the Scottish Youth Parliament campaign in Fife,” she added.

“It is important to send a message to formalise the position that we will not have them on Fife Council buildings.”