Florida officials play Baby Shark on repeat to drive rough sleepers away from the waterfront

Officials in Florida are blasting out "aggravating" children's music throughout the night to drive rough sleepers away from a city waterfront.

Extremely repetitive songs such as Baby Shark and Raining Tacos are being played on endless loop in West Palm Beach to act as a deterrent around the Lake Pavilion, according to the BBC.

The glass-walled venue overlooks the downtown waterfront and has apparently been blighted by litter and faeces from those sleeping nearby there at night.

Mayor Keith James told the broadcaster that the method is a temporary measure to keep the homeless away.

He said that in recent weeks "unpleasant remnants" had been found around the Lake Pavilion entrance and that it was important to keep the area "pristine".

"When people pay good money for it, they should be able to enjoy the facility they pay for," Mr James said.

The songs were chosen, he said, because "they're pretty aggravating if you hear them over add over."

However, campaigners for the homeless have described the method cruel.

Maria Foscarinis, founder of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty said: "These are people who are already in desperate straits and this is an effort to make life even more miserable for them,"

"Driving them out by blaring music is just inhumane and really shocking."

She added that the technique of using Baby Shark and Raining Tacos is particularly insidious.

There are approximately 354 individuals experiencing homelessness in West Palm Beach - a decrease of 24 per cent from the year before, according to Mr James.

He said teams are sent out to help the homeless population find shelter and medical care with around six people placed in temporary or transitional housing each week.

"I'm very proud of our record," Mr James said.

Florida is home to approximately 31,030 individuals without a home, which is just less than 6 per cent of the nation's total.