Classical way to see off rowdy youngsters (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Classical way to see off rowdy youngsters

12:40pm Monday 23rd February 2009 in

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MOZART and Tchaikovsky are helping a Widnes supermarket to hit the right note.

Classical music played from loudspeakers deters youngsters congregating around its Halebank store in Widnes.

John Hilbert, Co-op’s regional loss prevention manager, said: “We had an issue with young people hanging around outside the store, which was intimidating for shoppers and staff. The problem has been dramatically reduced since we introduced the music.

“The youngsters are definitely not classical music fans and tend to disappear as soon as we turn the music on. Playing the music makes our shops ‘ess cool’ places to hang around.”

The taped music is controlled by shop staff who can adjust the volume to deter youths and the deterrent is successfully operating at more than 200 Co-ops throughout the UK.