Participation in Practice: Mosquito ban in Sheffield

The device emits a high-pitched sound that can only be heard by children and young people and is designed to discourage them from hanging around in public places.

Harrison Carter, 17, UKYP member for Sheffield, began his campaign last August: "We started the campaign because I had a bad experience of the device and it also became a national priority for the UKYP," he says.

He wrote to councillors, local MPs and the Home Office telling them why he thought the device should be banned. As a result, the council compiled a report into its use of the device.

"The council found it was being used on seven of its buildings," says Harrison. "The council seemed to agree that it should be banned on its property so we went ahead with calling for a ban."

After months of lobbying by Harrison and other young people, councillors in Sheffield voted in favour of the ban at a council meeting in January. However, that was not the end of the matter. "The Libs Dems got the ban through but some Labour councillors objected to it," says Harrison.

To defuse the situation, he wrote to a local newspaper and lobbied opponents. "We wanted it to be seen as a success for the city and not turned into a massive political squabble," he says.

The campaign continues as the ban does not apply to private property, which would require new legislation. Harrison wants the device removed from all public places: "You shouldn't discriminate against people based on their age and whether they get annoyed by a high-pitch sound."