General Chat

As we already have the ban here in Scotland I think it has worked really well, I haven't heard of anyone breaking it. I welcome the no smoking in pubs etc. As a rule most people have respected the law and it has become second nature to all. As for the law enforcers who are going to be employed What next, honestly!! what an utter waste of the tax payers money. I bet they will really be unpopular.

I sincerely hope smoking is banned in the smoking room at the houses of Parliament!! Allowing 'undercover' agents to take photo's or film people leaves the gate open for ANYONE to film ANYBODY and claim they are these agents - stalkers dream come true!! If the government can afford to train these people, why aren't there 'agents' patrolling the street filming/photographing people using a mobile phone whilst driving? What happened to the vehicle emissions law? Stand in any bus station and breathe in the carbon monoxide being belched out - then tell me smoking is more dangerous than that!! This is the thin edge of the wedge - god knows what they will do next in order to curb the rights of the citizen to get their way. Softly Softly. Takes me back to 1933.................. maggie

well said Olde Crone Holden mate family

What a pity they haven't got an extra 29.5 million to give to the Police so they could do their jobs properly. There are enough uncaught criminals out there without trying to criminalise the rest of us for using products we can legally buy.

Just another thought about this, Does this mean that Tobacconists/Shopkeepers will be allowed to 'Sell Cigarettes 'and then be' Prosecuted' for Aiding and Abetting people to break the Law?. and will the snoopers be able to claim 'Expenses' for all the Booze they consume in the course of their undercover exploits?. Hal.

Well ok then - as long as these undercover people also secretly film drunks, and landlords who serve drunken people with yet more drink. And stalk people who look as though they are going to spit their chewing gum out on the pavement - and dog walkers whose dogs look as if they might, erm, perform, and people who look as if they might be shoplifters. Brilliant idea - I am thrilled my Council Tax is going up yet again to cover the cost of this. Let no expense be spared in getting the REAL criminals (the smokers) behind bars. OC

And how are these enforcement officers going to gain entry into private members clubs and working mens clubs where you have to be a member or sugned in by a member to gain enrty ????? Sxx

i thought private clubs were exempt from it anyway:-))

Me too Bob,its completely unacceptable,I would favour an all out ban, meaning the sale of tobacco,if its such a big health risk thats the only option,in my opinion,but they wont do that,will they! this hypocrisy makes me sick. Fred,I agree, lighting up In a car is dangerous,just as dangerous as using a mobile while driving,with the added health risk if you have passengers.

Thousands of council officers will patrol bars, restaurants and shops to police the smoking ban when it comes into force in July, it has been reported. Councils have been granted £29.5m to pay for staff, who will be able to give on-the-spot £50 fines to people and take court action against premises if they flout the law. A BBC investigation found that the officers will be able to go undercover to photograph and film people. A Government-funded course is expected to train 1,200 council officers in the next few months, with more later. Ian Gray, policy officer for the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and chief trainer for the Government course, told the BBC: 'I expect most councils will take a softly, softly approach at first. But there will be some occasions when action has to be taken and I am sure the officers will not shy away from that. 'These officers do not have to identify themselves when they go into premises and they can even film and photograph people to gather evidence, although this may not be appropriate in many cases.' In Nottingham, there will be about 30 officers patrolling the city, comprised of new staff and existing environmental health officers. The council is also exploring the possibility of getting street wardens, who currently aid the local police force, to help ensure the ban is effectively enforced. Steve Dowling, director of environment and public protection at Nottingham City Council, said: 'We have about 100 wardens and they could keep an eye on whether people are smoking in pubs as they go about their other duties. In Liverpool, there will be a core team of about 20 to 25, although about 200 staff are expected to patrol the city in the first few days after the ban. Liverpool City Council official Andy Hull told the BBC: 'We want to make our presence felt from the start, although we will probably just issue warnings on the first day.' SO just WHERE will the enforcement officers came from? NEW intake of council employees? a bit of extra overtime for some? ''Er do us a couple of missions while you are on the sick...?'' SOMONE is gonna have to pay these individuals........and where will the money come from......after the initial grant is used up? ...our council tax, no doubt... Bob Ex smoker , but despise tactics such as these........

Sorry peeps but the few people saying that people getting into a car smoking will not kill anyone?a few people doing so behind the wheel of a car HAVE done so,either by taking their eyes off the road to light up at the wrong time ,or by puffing away one hand off the wheel and being not in proper control of the car,as happens with hand held mobiles.,the discusion was the waste of taxpayers money .not vilification ,or not of smokers. I think the owners of these establishments should ban any people from smoking in their premises ,the same way as they do ,if responsible .to refuse to serve anyone drunk, with more liquer to prevent accidents through drink driving The councils waste enough money ,i think we all agree that they do that well enough without adding to their wasteful ways.Fred..

I used to smoke but I no longer do,however it is, as you all know,'Extremely Addictive' also very 'Lucrative' in taxes for the Government,So why have they bought this stupid Law in? Probably to get even more taxes from people. But does,nt this make a complete 'Mockery' of the ' Their Much Vaunted Human Rights Law?' or do they now regard people who smoke 'None Human'?.But then again,as lots of MPs.are members of the so called'Legal Profession' It could be a way for them to earn even more off the 'Legal Aid System' to enhance their 'Retirement Funds'. Not that the Blairs would even dream of doing such a thing. Hal.

Gwynne,i agree with you,this is why I find the whole thing crazy!! Car fumes are so very toxic,and yet you see children being exposed to them everyday,we live in a very stupid world when people cant see what the real dangers are. But Im afraid the population has been brainwashed:-((

What hypocrites the govt is! Do all the non smokers realise that if EVERYONE gave up smoking, the income tax rate or something else would go sky high!! Where else would the govt get the billions of £s they make from the tax on smokers. Why do you think they make so much fuss over people buying cigs & tobacco o/seas. I do not recall tobacco having been made an illegal substance! yet smokers are now to be treated as criminals At least a person smoking will not get in a car and kill someone, but a person who has been drinking can, why is there no fuss made about booze! which does far more harm

if smoking is really the killer desease, then tobacco must be registered as an illegal substance, and using it therefor becomes a criminal offence. as it is not an illegal substance, prosecuting smokers infringes civil liberties, and the law makers become law breakers. the government is looking like a dog chasing it's own tail, one day they will catch it... and we will then find a new party is running the country. bryan ( non-smoker )

I am a heavy smoker but I would not DREAM of smoking in a restaurant and am surprised to hear that anyone does - how very rude and illmannered. I agree with Maud. In my local rag yesterday, there were at least ten reports of drunk drivers, and a report of a domestic assault, where the man was 'very sorry, it was the drink'. Not a single report of anyone beating up their wife/a policeman/a mate because they had been SMOKING. The Government could ban smoking tomorrow if it wanted to, but it won't because it is a huge source of revenue. This government speaks with forked tongue - as usual. OC

''Undercover''?? what on earth does THAT mean..........that they are road workers in plain clothes? or something....... ( OR maybe coming in with clothes reeking of smoke and being an agent provocateur?) ''Give us light mate.....!!!, here.. have one yourself...........!'' Bob

This is the bit that concerns me most - 'They will have the power to enter premises undercover, allowing them to sit among drinkers, and will even be able to photograph and film people.' I don't go to a pub expecting to be filmed - is there no privacy anymore? CCTV is bad enough but now Big Brother is following us inside. Maybe they ought to film the cars belching out fumes at pushchair level as well. Let's ban them too. Gwynne

Fred I agree with you and I am a smoker, stupidly. I always smoke outside whether im at a restaurant or at home as I don't want to smoke around my children, why should others suffer because I have a bad habit. I didn't start smoking until 6 years ago when I had postnatal depression and wish I had more sense and not started. Jackie

Fred,I agree with you too. Im not against the ban in public places,Im against this crazy Idea,Its surely up to the land lords to make sure the law stands, Yet more tax payers money being wasted on this Idea,that will probably fall apart anyway:-))