Creativity among the ASBO fraternity

I almost forgot about this gem that I heard about on good old BBC Radio 4.

There’s an ultrasonic gadget called the Mosquito that’s been designed to disperse groups of loitering teenagers from hanging around threateningly outside corner shops and takeaways. Apparently it emits a loud and unpleasant whine on a frequency that can only be heard by under-25s (so its demo on the Today programme probably went unnoticed by 90% of its audience) and it’s been snapped up at £500 a go by councils and shop-keepers who fear that ‘hoodies’ intimidate their customers.

It’s undoubtedly a very clever idea, but its ‘victims’ have turned it to their own advantage. Some creative teen terrors have worked out that the recorded sound of the Mosquito is the perfect ringtone for your mobile phone if you don’t want the teacher or your parents to know you’re taking calls. Now that’s smart thinking. I’d give that hoodie a job any day.