NATIONAL: Human rights sting as Mosquito squashed.

A high-tech alarm which dramatically cut yob behaviour is to be removed from outside a store due to fears that it infringes human rights.

The Mosquito sends out a high-pitched pulse which can be heard by most people aged under 20 but almost nobody aged more than 30.

Since it was fitted outside a Spar store in Caerleon Road, Newport, South Wales, earlier this year, it has had a dramatic impact. Anti-social behaviour is said to have dropped by 84 per cent as potential troublemakers irritated by the sound quit the vicinity.

The device was also being closely monitored by Gwent Police for its obvious potential in other communities. Now it is to be removed and it is feared previous anti-social problems will re-emerge.

A police spokesman said: "The Mosquito device is a commercial product that was not issued by police.

"Gwent Police agreed to monitor a trial at a retail premises on Caerleon Road and there was an initial indication that it was successful at deterring anti-social behaviour and was positively received by the community."