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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Car smoking ban comes into force | Car smoking ban comes into force |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A law banning smoking in vehicles carrying children has come into force in England and Wales. | A law banning smoking in vehicles carrying children has come into force in England and Wales. |
| Drivers and passengers who break the law could face a penalty fine of £50 - but police say they will take a non-confrontational approach initially. | Drivers and passengers who break the law could face a penalty fine of £50 - but police say they will take a non-confrontational approach initially. |
| Whenever an under-18 is in the car, smokers will still be liable even if the windows are down or sunroof open. | Whenever an under-18 is in the car, smokers will still be liable even if the windows are down or sunroof open. |
| But the law will not apply to people who are driving in a convertible which has the roof down. | But the law will not apply to people who are driving in a convertible which has the roof down. |
| Nor does it apply to e-cigarettes. | Nor does it apply to e-cigarettes. |
| The Scottish Parliament is expected to consider bringing in its own law banning smoking in cars carrying children next year. | The Scottish Parliament is expected to consider bringing in its own law banning smoking in cars carrying children next year. |
| Meanwhile, officials in Northern Ireland said they would look at how the ban is working elsewhere before deciding whether or not to follow suit. | Meanwhile, officials in Northern Ireland said they would look at how the ban is working elsewhere before deciding whether or not to follow suit. |
| More than 430,000 children are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars each week, according to the British Lung Foundation. | More than 430,000 children are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars each week, according to the British Lung Foundation. |
| Passive smoking | Passive smoking |
| Exposing children to passive smoking can increase the risk of asthma, meningitis and cot death. | Exposing children to passive smoking can increase the risk of asthma, meningitis and cot death. |
| Health campaigners have hailed the move as a "tremendous victory" and the most significant milestone since the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in 2007. | Health campaigners have hailed the move as a "tremendous victory" and the most significant milestone since the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in 2007. |
| But Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said the new law was unnecessary and almost certainly unenforceable. | But Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said the new law was unnecessary and almost certainly unenforceable. |
| "If drivers are spotted smoking will they be stopped in case there's a child in the back? The authorities, especially the police, must have better things to do." | "If drivers are spotted smoking will they be stopped in case there's a child in the back? The authorities, especially the police, must have better things to do." |
| Analysis: Will the new law work? | Analysis: Will the new law work? |
| The acknowledgement by the police that there will be a light-touch approach to the smoking ban in cars has raised some eyebrows. | The acknowledgement by the police that there will be a light-touch approach to the smoking ban in cars has raised some eyebrows. |
| But this was always likely to be the case. In fact, the same approach was taken when the smoking ban in enclosed public places - bars, restaurants and clubs - was introduced in 2007. | But this was always likely to be the case. In fact, the same approach was taken when the smoking ban in enclosed public places - bars, restaurants and clubs - was introduced in 2007. |
| It was not made a priority by police or council officials, but the fact it was the law changed attitudes and behaviour. | It was not made a priority by police or council officials, but the fact it was the law changed attitudes and behaviour. |
| And that is the point. Like other laws, the aim of this one is public protection - from second-hand smoke. But there is also a wider ambition too: to make smoking socially unacceptable. | And that is the point. Like other laws, the aim of this one is public protection - from second-hand smoke. But there is also a wider ambition too: to make smoking socially unacceptable. |
| Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation, said it would be "extremely challenging" to enforce the ban. | Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation, said it would be "extremely challenging" to enforce the ban. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The reality of the situation is we are struggling to attend burglaries. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The reality of the situation is we are struggling to attend burglaries. |
| "Should we be focusing on people smoking in cars with children in the cars or should we be focusing on burglaries?" | "Should we be focusing on people smoking in cars with children in the cars or should we be focusing on burglaries?" |
| A National Police Chiefs' Council spokeswoman said: "Police forces will be taking an educational, advisory and non-confrontational approach when enforcing the new legislation. | |
| "This would see people being given warnings rather than being issued with fines, which would give time for public awareness of the offences to build." | |
| A history of smoking legislation in the UK | A history of smoking legislation in the UK |