Forest slams "pointless" car smoking ban

Tue 15th March, 2016

Forest has accused the government of making the police look "hapless and ineffectual" following a BBC report that no fines and only six warnings were issued in England and Wales in the first three months of the law banning smoking in cars carrying children.

Simon Clark, director of the smokers' group Forest, said:

"This is one of the most pointless laws ever introduced. Not only is it impossible to enforce, parents who smoke don't need politicians telling them how to behave.

"The overwhelming majority know it's inconsiderate to smoke in a car carrying children. Even before the law was introduced they didn't do it.

"The police have far better things to do than pull over drivers on suspicion they may be smoking with a child in the car.

"Through no fault of their own the police have been made to look hapless and ineffectual."

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