A youth service director from Bradford today called for an outright ban on a device that emits a high-pitched noise to disperse youngsters from trouble hotspots.

The ‘mosquito’, which has been deployed at several locations across the district, produces an annoying whining noise which is said to be audible only to young people.

But yesterday the Fair Play for Children Association called for a moratorium on the use of the mosquito unless issues concerning its legality have been settled. Today Miriam Jackson, who lives in Bradford and is director of the Youth Work Unit in Yorkshire, went a step further by calling for an outright ban.

She said: “There might be problems around shops in terms of young people gathering, but to treat a whole section of our society as a pest is not the most encouraging way to treat young people.

“The mosquito seems to be something that’s reached for despite there being other options available, such as working with local youth work organisations or the voluntary sector to resolve issues.

“I can think of one in Baildon where there is a device outside the shops. Yes, it might prevent young people gathering outside the shops and causing problems, but people who are just queuing for a bus also find it painful. That does not seem an appropriate resolution.”

The mosquito was first used by West Yorkshire Police to disperse anti-social groups gathering in Baildon. It was effective in driving problematic gangs away from the Jani restaurant, in the centre of the village.

The devices have since been deployed outside Thornton newsagents, in Thornton, on The Parade, in Cottingley, and near Clayton Baptist Church.

But two months ago, dad-of-six Lee D’Arcy, from Buxton Road, Frizighall, claimed his family were being driven out of their home because his children were being kept awake at night by “unrelenting” noise from three recently-installed mosquitos.

West Yorkshire Police did not wish to get involved in the latest debate, but just over two years ago the force said it “fully backed” mosquitos.