Children report headache, ear pain from Mosquito in Bradford

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Children living next to a "Mosquito" device in Bradford reported that headaches, ear pain, ringing in the ears and difficulty sleeping:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... m-out.html

Family claim Mosquito devices are driving them out
A family claims a controversial Mosquito device designed to deter anti-social behaviour by producing an annoying high-pitched whine is driving them from their home.
28 Apr 2010

Lee D'Arcy and partner Sarah Murray, who have six children between them, say they have had to buy ear plugs to protect them from the sound of the gadgets installed to repel gangs of youths.
Three Mosquitoes have been put up outside the couple's house in Bradford, West Yorks., over the last 18 months by police and a housing association following complaints from neighbours of anti-social behaviour in the area.

Mr D'Arcy, a 37-year-old metallurgist at Leeds company AETC Ltd, said the devices were installed after fellow residents claimed youths had been drinking and taking drugs on the green outside their home.


But the first Mosquito popped up without him receiving any consultation on the introduction.

His complaints about the introductions at a mediation meeting shortly after fell on deaf ears and two were then brought in, with one just two metres away from their house.

Mr D'Arcy said: "Sometimes the noise can be going for 24 hours and its not just my children who can hear it I can as well.

It sounds like a high-pitched wailing, like when something goes wrong with an electronic device. The children have been suffering from headaches because of it and they've struggled to get to sleep.

"Lewis has been sent home from school with pain still in his ears from the noise and Libby has got constant ringing in her ears from it - for which we are taking her to the doctor.

"Its not just outside that you can hear it either its in the house as well.

"We've tried different things like earmuffs and now me and some of the children have to sleep with earplugs in to block it out.

The family are now planning to move out of the rented family home where they have lived for just over a year.

Mr D'Arcy said: "We have done absolutely nothing wrong but we feel we are being driven out. As soon as we find somewhere else we will be moving because we just can't take it anymore. The children can't play outside and you can't escape it indoors either.

Bradford Council's anti-social behaviour team, Brunel Housing Association, which runs a complex for over-55s in the area, and Shipley police have been working to stop anti-social behaviour on the green.
The housing association is now reviewing their use following the complaints.

Bradford Council anti-social behaviour officer John Crosland said mediators at Bradford-based Community Accord had been brought in to resolve disputes between residents living in the area. He said there had been success in ridding the area of anti-social behaviour.

Gary Smith, area manager for Brunel Housing, said Mosquitos had been hugely successful in deterring young people congregating and disturbing vulnerable elderly people.