Thousands of 'smoke police' to patrol bars

mc_squared · 15-02-2007, 02:54 PM

Thousands of 'smoke police' to patrol bars

Last updated at 14:21pm on 15th February 2007

Specially-trained staff will have the right to issue on-the-spot £50 fines

Thousands of council staff are being trained to police the smoking ban in pubs, offices and restaurants, it emerged today
Councils have been given £30 million by central government to pay for the 'smoking police'.
The specially-trained staff will have the right to issue on-the-spot £50 fines to anyone caught flouting the ban when it comes in on 1 July.
They will also have to power to take court action against any bar, restaurant, office or factory which fails to comply with the new laws.
In an extraordinary extension of the normal powers handed to town hall workers, they will have the power to enter premises undercoverand will be able to film and photograph people for evidence.
Council workers have been chosen to enforce the ban so it does not consume police time. But the pro smoking lobby believes the plan is a 'waste of public money'.
The British Beer and Pub Association also condemned the Government's move as 'heavy handed and elaborate.'
The smoking ban will apply to almost all enclosed public spaces including train stations, factories, offices, pubs and bars.
Anyone found breaking the new regulations faces a £50 fixed penalty, discounted to £30 if paid within 15 days. But that penalty could rise to £200 if smokers are taken to court.
Business owners are liable for a fine of £200 if proper signs are not displayed and a £2,500 fine if they fail to enforce the ban.
More than 1,200 council officers will be trained over the next few months on how to police the ban. The trained officers will then brief other council staff.
In London there are expected to be several hundred anti-smoking officers with at least 40 patrolling Westminster.

Black Rose · 15-02-2007, 07:55 PM

Good plan that, although you could say it is the Police state kicking into effect again.

RICK8 · 15-02-2007, 08:20 PM

Good idea..we should start that here!!!

Black Rose · 15-02-2007, 08:22 PM

I think the EU is trying to force every country to get some anti-smoking laws.

RICK8 · 15-02-2007, 08:27 PM

Fair enough...why should non-smokers be subjected to smoke!!!

I personally can't stand it..if only it was banned!!

mc_squared · 15-02-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by RICK8;1989090
Fair enough...why should non-smokers be subjected to smoke!!!

I personally can't stand it..if only it was banned!!

Yes - it should have happened years ago!!

15-02-2007, 02:54 PM	#1
mc_squared Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 67,519 My Mood: Location: Wherever life takes me Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Thousands of 'smoke police' to patrol bars Thousands of 'smoke police' to patrol bars Last updated at 14:21pm on 15th February 2007 Comments (6) Specially-trained staff will have the right to issue on-the-spot £50 fines Thousands of council staff are being trained to police the smoking ban in pubs, offices and restaurants, it emerged today Councils have been given £30 million by central government to pay for the 'smoking police'. The specially-trained staff will have the right to issue on-the-spot £50 fines to anyone caught flouting the ban when it comes in on 1 July. They will also have to power to take court action against any bar, restaurant, office or factory which fails to comply with the new laws. In an extraordinary extension of the normal powers handed to town hall workers, they will have the power to enter premises undercoverand will be able to film and photograph people for evidence. Council workers have been chosen to enforce the ban so it does not consume police time. But the pro smoking lobby believes the plan is a 'waste of public money'. The British Beer and Pub Association also condemned the Government's move as 'heavy handed and elaborate.' The smoking ban will apply to almost all enclosed public spaces including train stations, factories, offices, pubs and bars. Anyone found breaking the new regulations faces a £50 fixed penalty, discounted to £30 if paid within 15 days. But that penalty could rise to £200 if smokers are taken to court. Business owners are liable for a fine of £200 if proper signs are not displayed and a £2,500 fine if they fail to enforce the ban. More than 1,200 council officers will be trained over the next few months on how to police the ban. The trained officers will then brief other council staff. In London there are expected to be several hundred anti-smoking officers with at least 40 patrolling Westminster. __________________ LIFE ISN'T MEANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY Be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. Work to live - don't live to work...................... Age is purely a state of mind! Don't waste your time on jealousy. Success is a journey, NOT a destination. Life is a marathon, NOT a sprint! http://www.generationterrorists.com/...sunscreen.html

15-02-2007, 07:55 PM	#2
Black Rose Bear with me Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 47,603 My Mood: Location: A strangeland under the iron sea where hopes & fears can make the night train be in perfect symmetry Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 6 Thanked 112 Times in 90 Posts	Good plan that, although you could say it is the Police state kicking into effect again. __________________ You could take a picture of something you see In the future where will I be? You could climb a ladder up to the sun Or write a song nobody had sung Or do something that's never been done

15-02-2007, 08:20 PM	#3
RICK8 Ætti Mørkna. \oo/ Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 73,434 My Mood: Location: New Zealand. Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Good idea..we should start that here!!! __________________ You might be a big fish,in a little pond,doesn't mean you have won,cause along may come a bigger one.

15-02-2007, 08:22 PM	#4
Black Rose Bear with me Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 47,603 My Mood: Location: A strangeland under the iron sea where hopes & fears can make the night train be in perfect symmetry Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 6 Thanked 112 Times in 90 Posts	I think the EU is trying to force every country to get some anti-smoking laws. __________________ You could take a picture of something you see In the future where will I be? You could climb a ladder up to the sun Or write a song nobody had sung Or do something that's never been done

15-02-2007, 08:27 PM	#5
RICK8 Ætti Mørkna. \oo/ Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 73,434 My Mood: Location: New Zealand. Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Fair enough...why should non-smokers be subjected to smoke!!! I personally can't stand it..if only it was banned!! __________________ You might be a big fish,in a little pond,doesn't mean you have won,cause along may come a bigger one.

15-02-2007, 08:32 PM	#6
mc_squared Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 67,519 My Mood: Location: Wherever life takes me Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by RICK8;1989090 Fair enough...why should non-smokers be subjected to smoke!!! I personally can't stand it..if only it was banned!! Yes - it should have happened years ago!! __________________ LIFE ISN'T MEANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY Be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. Work to live - don't live to work...................... Age is purely a state of mind! Don't waste your time on jealousy. Success is a journey, NOT a destination. Life is a marathon, NOT a sprint! http://www.generationterrorists.com/...sunscreen.html