Supermarket staff have discovered a new weapon to ward off intimidating gangs from outside their shops: Classical music.

As Tchaikovsky laboured over his symphonies, he was probably hoping for greater things.

The composer's work is being played into the street in Lancing - to deter young people from hanging around outside the Co-op.

Music by Tchaikovsky and Mozart is being broadcast from speakers near two store branches.

Classical music, loved by the cultural elite, is apparently intolerable to youngsters who hang out in the street.

Staff at the South Street outlet are using recordings of the Russian's work, while examples from Mozart's canon are being played at the shop in Farmers Parade.

If teenagers in hoodies start congregating in the street nearby, workers will turn up the volume to encourage them to move on.

Rob Oade, regional loss prevention manager for the chain, said the plan was hatched with the belief young people would not want to spend time listening to music they considered uncool. He predicted they would simply buy what they wanted and then leave the area.

He said: "They're not causing any trouble, it's just large groups of youths congregating outside our stores, which can be intimidating for staff. We have seen 20 or 30 youths sometimes in the evenings. We are talking about two or three hours at a time.

"It would actually keep some of our potential customers away because they felt intimidated."

It is not only staff at the Co-op who have discovered sound is an effective non-lethal weapon.

The crew of a luxury cruise ship used a Long Range Acoustic Device last week to repel pirates who tried to hijack the ship off the eastern coast of Africa.

The Seabourne Spirit ocean liner used the device to send out an ear-splitting noise which saved it from the gun-toting pirates.

Israeli fighter jets have also used sonic explosion sounds in the skies above Gaza to create fear among Palestinian resistance groups.

In the UK, classical music has already been played at 13 Co-op stores elsewhere in the country with a great deal of success. It is now being rolled out to many more.

Mr Oade said: "We had a tremendous response. The store managers were sceptical at first. Now they love it."

The music is never loud enough to annoy customers or neighbours because if the volume is turned up too high, it cuts out automatically.

In other areas, the Co-operative Group has also worked with local communities to provide facilities for young people so they have somewhere else to go instead of spending time in the street.

Mr Oade said: "We don't want to just move them on from our stores, we want to try to help. It comes down to boredom most of the time.

"We provide shelters for them and youth clubs so there is an alternative place."

Ian Morgan-Williams, director of music at independent school Lancing College, thought the Co-op was wrong to think young people would be turned off by classical music.

He said: "I think it's a great idea. The more classical music heard in public places, the better.

"The pupils here listen to all sorts of music. I think they'll find people will listen to it.

"I hope they can look forward to a slightly more cultured youth hanging around."

Thursday, November 17, 2005