Yesterday Classic FM radio mentioned briefly that Gustav Mahler's music had been found to be particularly effective in deterring gangs of teenagers from lurking in a pedestrian subway in Dartford, Kent. After the local council introduced a system for playing the music in the tunnel the amount of graffiti and other forms of anti-social behaviour declined considerably. Some more detail can be seen at http://www.kentonline.co..._new_weapon_against.aspx and http://www.telegraph.co....ackle-young-vandals.html During recent years there have been similar reports of classical music being used to deter teenagers/young people from congregating at railway stations, shopping malls and other locations where they have indulged in anti-social behaviour. An alternative method involves a device which emits a high pitched mosquito-like noise which is audible to most persons under 25 can be heard. While searching for information about this device under “mosquito”, I found that its makers now also sell a music version which emits royalty free classical music. Perhaps it’s this version which has proved effective in the subway at Dartford. Can any forum users confirm cases of noise or music devices having been proving effective in their areas? It’s likely that some people will say that using noise or classical music devices to disperse anti-social young people is an infringement of their human rights. Nonsense! If such young people were to behave in a responsible manner and have consideration for the rights of other people, there wouldn’t be any need for the devices. Also, do the devices cause any actual harm to such young people? Almost certainly none at all, so why make an issue out of it? By contrast, there might be a case regarding the loud 'pop' music which seems to be obligatory in some shops. Depending on their musical tastes, shoppers may like or loath such music and be subject to a limited duration. However, the employees in such shops will be subject to considerable exposure each and every working day. In the wider context of OS&H it seems that the use of deterrent sound devices can be beneficial. For example, if they reduce the amount of graffiti, it presumably helps finance and manpower-stretched councils concentrate on necessary services by reducing the amount of graffiti which needs removing, no doubt with appropriate solvents. The same probably applies to removing used chewing gum from pavements. Also, the devices may help to reduce the competing and excessive demands on police officers by “encouraging” anti-social young people to congregate elsewhere in locations where they pose fewer problems or none. Also, does anyone know if police forces and/or local authorities use sound as a way of controlling/dispersing the hordes of drunken young people who frequent UK town and city centres each weekend? p.s. Though posted on a Friday this topic is not intended as one of this forum's Friday frivolities - though some humour in responses is always welcome.

Perhaps he could also condider Gilbert and Sullivan's Yeoman of the Guard!!

Perhaps a focus on the influence that music has on inspiring people to commit crime may be more meaningful ?

Just use BBC Radio 1....That'd make me move somewhere else.

Many thanks for the responses so far. It's good to know from the earlier ones that classical and other music is being used to good effect against anti-social behaviour. However, I'm a bit puzzled by JohnMurray's ambiguous comment about 'music inspiring people to commit crime', so hope he can explain a bit more. For a slight deviation on a positive musical theme, there are reports of various studies which suggest that hearing music by Mozart can help improve memory, thinking and/or concentration, e.g. for surgeons and other staff in operating theatres. Though this is popularly known as the "Mozart Effect", some reports suggest that music by some other composers such as Rossini have similar benefits. Apparently such benefits stem from the sound patterns of such music rather than their tunes. On a highly whimsical note, there's a slender possibility that the subway at Dartford might attract hordes of Mahler fans - If so, appropriate counter measures would need to be considered, such as interspersing the Mahler music with that of other composers such as Stockhausen!

It wasn't just Christmas.....It was all year round! 30 different tracks would have been a God-send! It was just 12 tracks played on continueous loop!.... They only changed the tape once a quarter! I was there 3 years! I love many different types of music but if I ever hear one of the tracks that used to be played in the shop I have to move away until I can't hear it anymore!

I have found Brahms and List very intoxicating...but I can never remember the words.

@ Graham re #12 The word you're looking for is torture. I beleive the intention was to enhance the shopping experience but the effect it had on staff would easily have been enough to make somone 'go postal'. If memory serves, it was a different tape every 3 months although it felt like longer. You might typically hear the whole tape through 6 or more times a day, 5 days a week for 3 months.