Sussex Police has withdrawn Mosquito deterrent devices across the county over safety fears. The device emits a buzzing sound that is audible only to young people, and is used to discourage groups from congregating.

NO - BILL BADHAM, senior development officer, participation team, The National Youth Agency

Mosquito devices used against children and young people in public places are degrading and breach their human rights. They have a right to meet together and enjoy the public space, not be hounded out by hurtful gadgets not even fit for a dog.

Problems are not confined to the young and can be responded to effectively and humanely. I look forward to communities of mutual respect where electronic gadgets aren't used to send out sound waves that hurt the ears of the young.

YES - PETER DOUGLAS OSBORN, Conservative councillor, Birmingham Council

It works. It doesn't cause pain, it causes slight irritation. If there is an antisocial behaviour problem, you can disperse it.

The feedback we've had is that it is effective but we couldn't have it in Staffordshire because we've got a spineless police force.

NO - KATHY EVANS, policy director, The Children's Society

The very idea of the mosquito teen deterrent device is even more repellent than the effect of the device itself.

Of course there are health and safety concerns about deliberately causing aural pain to young people, let alone younger children and babies in prams who can be caught in the sonic crossfire. These obvious con-cerns should have been reacted to far more quickly than they have been. But the main reason to end their use is because it is a degrading, animalistic way to treat young people.

NO- CAROLYNE WILLOW, national co-ordinator, Children's Rights Alliance for England

These devices probably breach articles eight and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to private life and to non-discrimination), now part of domestic law.

They are indiscriminate: they affect all people below a certain age, not just those whose behaviour is deemed to be problematic. Babies are affected too. These devices treat young people as outcasts in their own communities. They are demeaning and should not be tolerated.