Nursery World - Opinion: In my view - This buzz needs banning

This month, the group 11 MILLION, together with Liberty, the National Youth Agency and a group of young people from Corby, launched the BUZZ OFF campaign, to call for an end to the use of ultrasonic dispersal devices used by various business and local authorities. The device, of which there are an estimated 3,500 in use across the country, emits a high-pitched sound only audible to those under 25, including babies and toddlers.

These devices are a worrying symptom of the growing demonisation of children, because they are indiscriminate and target all children, regardless of whether they are misbehaving.

I have spoken to parents and carers of very young children, who were at a loss to understand why their babies and young children were so distressed in certain locations. It transpired that they had been standing in the vicinity of one of these so called 'teen deterrents'. Surely this is not the way a civilised society should be treating its young? I am not excusing anti-social behaviour. But there must be better solutions than this.

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