Brits, you live in an Orwellian police state and the Big Government tyranny just keeps expanding. This is the East German Stasi approach to controlling the behavior of citizens. The only thing that will stop people smoking is education. I recommend reading “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking” by Allen Carr whose system is recognized as one of the most effective in the world. Quitting is a process of psychological deprogramming mainly. The book goes into this process at length.
If the UK government really wanted people to stop, first, they would shut down the tobacco industry which is literally poisoning and killing millions of people around the world who are addicted to their drug — and it is a highly addictive drug worse than heroin. Then they would provide free smoking cessation clinics, free books, CDs and DVDs and advertise these widely in the media and throughout public spaces. But no, instead they are using millions of pounds to police people’s personal behavior with what amounts to a public health Gestapo. This is pure evil!
Big Government destroys liberty. The real goal is to enslave the masses and overrun human freedom and they are doing a bang up job of it. It is the same with terrorism. They don’t want to stop terror because they ARE the terrorists. They don’t want to stop drug addiction because they are the pushers. It is all about power and control and nothing else. Do not be deceived.
PW
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.
Thousands of council officers will be enforcing the ban
Thousands of council staff are being trained to police the smoking ban in bars, restaurants and shops in England.
Ministers have given councils £29.5m to pay for staff, who will be able to give on-the-spot £50 fines to individuals and take court action against premises.
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.
The smoking ban is due to come into force on 1 July. It covers virtually all enclosed public places including offices, factories, pubs and bars. But neither outdoor space nor private homes will be affected.
“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.
“There will be two ways of doing this, either staff can go in and identify themselves to the landlord, but they don’t have to.”
In Nottingham, there will be about 30 officers patrolling the city, composed of new staff and existing environmental health officers.
But 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.
“But it is not just about pubs and restaurants.
“We will also be looking at the likes of car garages and shops are complying as well.”
‘A sledgehammer’
In Liverpool, there will be a core team of about 20 to 25 staff keeping an eye on public places, although in the first few days after the start of the ban the council is planning to do a mass patrol of the city with 200 staff.
Liverpool City Council official Andy Hull said: “We want to make our presence felt from the start, and while we will probably just issue warnings on the first day, we won’t be afraid of making an example of people or businesses if they try to make a stand.”
And across Wales, where the smoking ban comes into force in April, 500 officers will be carrying out inspections after councils received just under £3m.
But Simon Clark, director of smokers’ lobby group Forest, said: “The idea of getting public officials to snoop on people is distasteful and disproportionate.
“It is like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Smokers will abide by the law so it will be a complete waste of public money.”
And a spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association added the approach was too “heavy-handed and elaborate”, especially when the experience in Scotland, which has already introduced a ban, is considered.
1 response so far ↓
Will Hatchett // June 18, 2007 at 4:32 pm
What a load of stupid, delusional paranoid nonsence. So you would be in favour of ‘shutting down the tobacco industry’. Yeh right. This is the kind of rubbish that Mick Hulme of ‘Living’ Marxism would write.