By Margaret Crosby

Published at 11:12, Thursday, 24 May 2012

A ‘MYSTERY’ high-pitched early morning sound being heard in the Senhouse Street area of Whitehaven is coming from two electronic Mosquito devices installed to aid crowd dispersal.

The Mosquito sounders have been installed at Cap’n Senny’s in response to calls from the police and Copeland Council who made it a condition of the club’s operating licence.

They have to be switched on between 2am and 3am and their high-pitched annoying whine is designed to help clear young revellers from the area outside the club at closing time and encourage them to go home.

But Cap’n Senny’s, who have shelled out more than £1,000 on the two devices, fears they may cause more problems than they solve. They are set by the manufacturers to stop after 20 minutes so they have to be reactivated twice more during the 2-3am period. And they don’t seem to be particularly efficient at aiding dispersal either. According to staff, people, who may have been drinking and listening to loud music for several hours, just say ‘what’s that noise?’

The devices, the first to be installed in West Cumbria, were first introduced in shopping centres to clear young skateboarders or those causing nuisance and are surrounded by controversy. Some argue their usage infringes human rights.

A raft of other requirements on Senny’s to be complied with by June 1, including the extended use of plastic glasses, more CCTV surveillance, an electronic door counter, increased door supervision, adoption of the Challenge 25 scheme to reduce incidents of under-age drinking, have been complied with. The aim, said police, was to reduce crime and disorder and protect the young.

Cap’n Senny’s will be open over the Festival weekend and have secured an extension on Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3 until 3.30am (last orders 3am). It will also be open on Monday, June 4 for the Jubilee until 2.30am.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk