A DEVICE used to disperse gangs of anti-social youths in Newport is being removed over fears it could breach their human rights.

The Mosquito device fitted to the Spar shop on Caerleon Road succeeded in cutting anti-social behaviour by dispersing gangs peacefully.

The black box device, fixed to an outside wall by police, emits a high-frequency pulsing sound that can be heard by most people younger than 20 and almost nobody older than 30.

It is designed so to irritate young people that after several minutes they cannot stand it and go away.

But Gwent police yesterday said the device will be removed and no further devices put up until human rights and health and safety issues are resolved.

The move has angered one Newport councillor, who had a number of the devices on order to combat anti-social behaviour in his ward.

Lliswerry councillor Allan Morris said: "I had an e-mail saying it could infringe human rights and to put my order on hold. I'm not very happy about it at all.

"My main interest is anti-social behaviour and I have made a personal commitment to my constituents to stamp it out."

Simon Morris, sales and marketing manager at Compound Security in Merthyr Tydfil, which makes the Mosquito, said figures supplied by Gwent police show an 84 per cent reduction in call-outs to the Spar shop on Caerleon Road since it was installed.

He said: "Now they are asking for the trial unit to be taken down until the investigations are complete.

"We have taken legal representations about whether it breaches any aspect of the human rights act or the control of pollutions act 1974 in regards to noise pollution."

Mr Morris said the firm had sold more than 200 units to police and local authorities across the UK. He said the firm is carrying out a full legal investigation.

Inspector Simon Jefferies said Gwent police agreed to monitor a trial on Caerleon Road and there was an initial indication that it was successful in deterring anti-social behaviour, and it was positively received by the local community.

He added: "However it was decided by Newport community safety partnership before introducing the device issues involving health and safety and human rights need to be resolved. This is currently being looked at by the legal department and environmental health department of Newport city council."

He said the Assembly had also asked Welsh forces to cease trials. But an Assembly spokeswoman said there had been discussions about the device but they have not asked for trials to cease.