Smoking ban to be backed up by hotline says government

The government has announced that it plans to launch a hotline to help ensure that pubs and other public spaces comply with the smoking ban when it comes into effect next year.

The ban, which will become law next summer, is expected to be largely self-policing, with venues rather than individual smokers being held accountable for breaking the law.

While councils will follow-up complaints and oversee a system of fines, a public hotline has also been put into place to help enforce the ban.

“We know from the experience of other countries that smoke-free legislation is largely self-enforcing,” health minister Andrew Burnham told the BBC.

“However, we are proposing to introduce a smoke-free compliance line as a supportive measure.”

Anti-tobacco campaigners Action on Smoking and Health described the proposals as a “sensible measure”.

Find out more about smokefree legislation