Shop-a-smoker hotline on way (From Oxford Mail)

Shop-a-smoker hotline on way

10:00am Saturday 26th August 2006

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Smokers who flout the forthcoming ban in Oxford bars and public places face the prospect of being grassed up on a special hotline.

A shop-a-smoker line is being launched next summer to coincide with the start of the controversial national smoking ban.

The idea is that smokers seen breaking the law in the city's pubs, restaurants and public places would be named in confidence and, if caught, face a court appearance or £50 on-the-spot penalty.

It would be the job of city council environmental health workers to impose the penalties, enforce the ban and take action against landlords and owners of premises where the ban was being ignored.

Those convicted of failing to prevent customers lighting up could face a fine of up to £2,500, while landlords who fail to display non-smoking signs could be stung with a £1,000 court fine or £200 on-the-spot penalty.

However, the idea has been dismissed as "ill thought out" by one city centre landlord.

Non-smoker Charles Eld, who runs Far from the Madding Crowd in Oxford, said: "I am absolutely gobsmacked by the whole thing, this is very ill thought out.

"From the point of view of licensed premises and the fines we face if we permit smoking on our premises, then dobbing in smokers pales into insignificance. I am vehemently anti-smoking myself, but we have spent a lot of money putting in an extractor system and I am happy my clothes do not smell of smoke in the morning."

The smoking ban would include all pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and public buildings, in a similar scheme to those already in operation in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.

City councillor Patrick Murray, a smoker, said: "It's absolutely insane, this is just the nanny state gone mad and it's probably unenforceable.

"I don't agree with the ban anyway, but this really is taking it too far and there are more important things for us to be worried about."

Consultation on the finer details of how the ban would be implemented, and when it would begin, runs until October - and could end the ritual of workers huddled outside non-smoking buildings, bus stops and train stations.

However, the powers could only be used where there was "significant risk" and where people would be exposed to "significant quantities of smoke".

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Information will be passed to local authority environmental health units. If the same establishment keeps cropping up, then action will be taken.

"Like with any phone line, the person making the call can report what they wish.

"It is possible that someone can ring and say I've seen Bob Jones smoking in an area he shouldn't be'."

A spokesman for Oxford City Council added: "The legislation covering smoking has not yet come in, but we are looking at our statutory requirements.

"We will be working with licensees of clubs, bars, pubs and restaurants when this legislation does come in to ensure that they work to the guidelines."

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