THE USE of ear-splitting "anti-teen" alarms has been defended by a council following attacks by civil liberties campaigners.

Rochdale council started fitting the Mosquito units two years ago and now has a total of eight. They are used in shopping precincts, parades, a community centre and in the entrances to flats on a housing estate.

The borough was one of the first in England to use the alarms, which emit a sound which is unpleasant to teenagers but inaudible to adults because of the way human hearing changes with age.

Around 3,500 are now in place across the country - and the children's commissioner, Sir Al Aynsley-Green, this week joined a campaign against their use.

"These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people, including babies, regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving," he said.

Sir Al was throwing his weight behind a new campaign, called "Buzz Off", aimed at ridding Britain's streets of the Mosquito.

But a spokeswoman for the Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership said the borough was committed to its continued use.

"We feel totally justified in deploying Mosquito devices in the borough of Rochdale to give the community respite in cases of acute anti-social behaviour and youth nuisance," she said. "We use the devices when there are large groups of young people making life a problem for residents and businesses, as we are very keen not to let problems of anti-social behaviour escalate.

Legal advice

"We have checked with the company that supplies the mosquito that the devices meet health and safety standards and we have sought legal advice on the deployment."

The spokewoman claimed two of Rochdale's Mosquitoes - at the shopping parade in Chapel Walk in Middleton - had successfully dispersed groups of youngsters who used to congregate outside a takeaway and off-licences.

They were fitted after repeated complaints of anti-social behaviour.

"[They] enabled members of the public to access the shops without being intimidated or threatened," added the spokeswoman.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) joined the council in defending the devices.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "Unfortunately, in many locations around the country, retailers are victims of anti-social gangs of youths that congregate around their premises.

"These youths deter customers, intimidate staff and can commit vandalism and violence.

"Where a retailer is faced with this problem, we fully support the use of a Mosquito device sparingly and as a measure of last resort."

And a spokesman for the Local Government Association said: "Councils use an array of techniques to disperse groups of youths from specific areas.

"These include talking CCTV and the use of the so-called 'Manilow Method', where either opera, classical or unfashionable pop music is played.

"It is imperative that local people work with their local council to ensure the most appropriate technique for ensuing that not only anti-social behaviour is dispersed but also that children have somewhere to go to release their energy in a safe place which does not disturb or annoy residents."

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