Alarm to combat antisocial behaviour at ‘worst’ station

● Rail chiefs install sonic device to target teen gangs

Rail bosses have installed a controversial sonic device which emits an unbearable high-pitched noise at a “war zone” train station in a bid to target teenage gangs.

The anti-loitering device has been placed at Hamilton Central railway station in Lanarkshire after a wave of assaults, fires and drug taking by youths who gather there.

Known as a “Mosquito”, it emits a high-frequency sound which is only audible to under25s

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in a bid to stop them congregating.

The station has been dubbed the worst in Scotland and Scotrail took action after complaints by staff and the RMT union.

However, the move has been criticised by campaigners who have called for the devices to be banned because they say they discriminate against young people.

Bruce Adamson, the new Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, said: “The use of such devices is a breach of children’s rights to go about their lives free from discrimination in a healthy and safe way when they use public transport, visit shops or meet their friends.

“These devices are a disproportionate and degrading approach that acts without discrimination, causing discomfort to any children and young people who encounter them. The UN and Council of Europe have called on governments to ban mosquito devices. Companies like Scotrail must also respect children’s rights.

“The Scottish Government and public authorities are under a duty to protect children from harm, they must act to ban these devices.”

Last month, workers at the station held a demonstration calling for bosses at Scotrail to take action after a surge in violence against staff and passengers. In recent weeks, an elderly woman was attacked by a youth in a drug-related assault, a passenger was assaulted on a stairwell and another hit with a bottle. Staff were verbally abused, fires were lit and people threatened.

Scotrail said the Mosquito is used at one other station, Helensburgh Central.

A Scotrail Alliance spokesman said: “The safety of our staff and customers is always our number one priority.

“As part of this multi-agency approach we have introduced a suite of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and since these have been put in place there has been a significant reduction in incidents in and around the station.”