LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- A high-pitched device used to combat anti-social behavior among young people has been called `` unfair '' by children 's campaigners in England . `` The Mosquito '' has been used to combat anti-social behavior among young people across England . The Children 's Commissioner for England , who oversees children 's rights , has called for a ban on the ultra-sonic gadget , known as `` The Mosquito , '' which disperses young people by emitting sharp , piercing sounds . The device causes discomfort to younger ears by exploiting their ability to hear very high frequencies -- a power which declines once they reach their 20s . But human rights groups say the machine infringes civil rights and creates a divide between young and old . Launching the `` Buzz Off '' campaign , England 's Children 's Commissioner Al Aynsley-Green said : `` I have spoken to many children and young people from all over England who have been deeply affected by ultra-sonic teenage deterrents . '' Aynsley-Green said about 3,500 of the devices are in use across England to split up gatherings of youth in areas such as parks and shops . `` These devices are indiscriminate and target all children and young people , including babies , regardless of whether they are behaving or misbehaving , '' he added . Youth leaders backed the campaign , adding that The Mosquito fails to address the root problems of anti-social behavior among youths -- and may even push teenagers to congregate in unsafe areas . `` Police , local authorities , and business instead should work collectively with young people and their communities to address the underlying causes of anti-social behavior in areas that cause concern , '' said Fiona Blacke , chief executive of the National Youth Agency , a government-funded group that works with young people on social development . The Mosquito was invented by Howard Stapleton , from Merthyr Tydfil , south Wales , and is manufactured by Compound Security Systems . The company describes The Mosquito as an `` ultrasonic teenage deterrent '' and `` the most effective tool in our fight against anti social behavior . '' It says the device has a range of 15 to 20 meters and teenagers are `` acutely aware of The Mosquito and usually move away from an area within an average of 8 to 10 minutes . '' The company says The Mosquito has proved popular with shop keepers who buy it to move along gatherings of teenagers and anti-social youths . It could not be contacted for a response to criticism of the deterrent . Railway companies have also placed the device to discourage youths from spraying graffiti on trains and station walls , Compound Security said . The controversial gadget was first used by shopkeeper Robert Gough , from South Wales . He told The Times newspaper : `` Either someone has come along and wiped them off the face of the earth , or it 's working . '' However , Shami Chakrabarti , director of the human rights group Liberty , said : `` What type of society uses a low-level sonic weapon on its children ? Imagine the outcry if a device was introduced that caused blanket discomfort to people of one race or gender , rather than to our kids . `` The Mosquito has no place in a country that values its children and seeks to instill them with dignity and respect . '' E-mail to a friend .
Campaigners want to ban ultra-sonic device used against young people . ` The devices are known as'sound cannons' and have been banned in the UK since 2003. About 3,500 of the devices are used in England to disperse young people . Human rights groups say they create divide between young and old .