THE anti-teen "Mosquito" will be banned on all council-owned buildings in Plymouth – if the city's Cabinet accepts a report next month.

A panel set up to study the use of the device wants the council to tackle anti-social behaviour by hiring more frontline youth workers instead.

A report to November's Cabinet meeting calls for an audit to find out which private buildings have Mosquitoes fitted.

And it says the Cabinet should consider whether to bring in new regulations and licensing for the devices on private property.

The Mosquito emits an irritating, high-pitched sound that only young people can hear.

But the panel which has been studying them says that their indiscriminate use affects any young person, whether they are misbehaving or not.

Using a Mosquito does not tackle the root cause of the problem of anti-social behaviour, says the panel, led by Conservative councillor David James.

Members heard evidence from a number of experts, including Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the Children's Commissioner for England.

Gordon White, the council's property surveyor, told councillors that three council-owned buildings in Whitleigh have a total of 22 anti-teenager 'Mosquito' devices installed to combat vandalism by young children.

He said vandalism at the three buildings was costing the council about £54,000-a-year, and the police said those responsible were too young to arrest.

The panel says that the Mosquito device does not tackle anti-social behaviour, but only moves it on.

It is asking the Cabinet to find funding for extra frontline youth workers to deal with antisocial behaviour.

Young people can often be the victims of anti-social behaviour, the report says.

"The devices should not be used until there is clear evidence about whether or not they pose a risk to heath," the report says. Anti-social behaviour is a criminal offence, and should be dealt with by the police.

"Youth workers can support young people and help them to focus on more constructive activities and opportunities."

The panel was told that there was evidence that the indiscriminate use of Mosquitoes could have a detrimental effect on people with autism and Aspergers syndrome.

The cross-party panel, which included two deputy members of the UK Youth Parliament, Reace McDonnell and Katie Taylor, met for two days in August and September.

The Mosquito emits a high-pitched sound which is intolerable to those under 25, but inaudible to older people.

It is widely used nationwide to stop young people from congregating in places such as shopping centres.

Mr White told the panel that Mosquitoes were fitted at the council's Woodfield Community Resource Centre, the Reatch Centre and Woodfield Primary School and Nursery, all in Taunton Avenue, Whitleigh.

Since the 22 devices were installed at the beginning of August, at a cost of £13,500, there has been no vandalism at the three buildings.

The Mosquitoes are only turned on after hours, when the buildings should be empty.

But Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children's Commissioner, told councillors: "There is a serious risk of polarising old and the young. Using these devices is a knee-jerk reaction attempting a quick-fix solution."

He said it was discrimination to use a device that could only be heard by those under 25.

"If there was a device targeted at black people there would be an uproar."

Retailers defended their use of the Mosquito. Tim Pearce, chief operating officer of the Food Group, said Plymouth & South West Co-operative Society had installed Mosquitoes at three of its stores in Plymouth.

"It's not unusual for our stores to have groups of up to 50 youths congregating late in the evening. It can be a tinderbox," he said.