Fife councillors have unanimously voted to ban controversial anti-loitering “mosquito devices” in the region.
The council has backed a call from the Scottish Youth Parliament to formally prohibit the use of the devices which emit a high-pitched noise designed to be heard only by those under the age of 25.
Their aim is to tackle anti-social behaviour by driving young people away from areas where they are installed.
But in a motion to full council on Thursday, SNP councillor Fay Sinclair called for a ban, arguing their use caused distress and unjust harm to youngsters.
Devices at Benarty Primary School and Glenrothes High School have both been removed and another at Dunfermline bus station will also go.
Ms Sinclair said: “They can cause distress and harm to certain segments of society, including causing nausea, dizziness and pain, as well as affecting children’s sense of balance.
“Babies and people with autism are particularly badly affected.
“I believe they are unjust and cause considerable distress to all young people, who are treated as a nuisance, regardless of their behaviour.
“They do nothing to address the causes of anti-social behaviour.”
She added: “These devices have been used in two schools in Fife.
“What sort of message is that sending out to our young people?
“Not only are they a grave violation of young people’s rights but it’s an absurd way of tackling anti-social behaviour and causes resentment and tension.”
The motion was seconded by Labour councillor Ryan Smart, a former member of the Scottish Youth Parliament which called for a ban after consulting 48,000 young people.
“If a shopkeeper came out and hit a young person over the head he would be arrested and charged,” he said,
“Why is it okay for a young person to be assaulted by one of these devices, just because they’re not seen?”
Mr Smart said some of the most vulnerable people in society were particularly badly affected by mosquito devices.
“Think about young people who are blind and need their hearing to go about their daily life,” he said.
“Fife’s previous group of MSYPs had a campaign to remove these and we’ve seen removal from Leven, Dunfermline, Glenrothes and many more places.
“There is no policy in Fife which bans these.
“I backed the campaign and therefore second the motion.”
