Thursday, February 15, 2007

A Nation of Smokebeaters

George Orwell's tragic nightmare becomes farcical reality:

Thousands of council officers will be on the streets this summer, patrolling bars, restaurants and shops to police the smoking ban when it comes into force.

....Councils have been granted £29.5 million to pay for staff, who will be able to issue £50 fines to people and take court action against premises if they flout the law, which comes into force in July.

Officers will be able to sit among drinkers undercover and photograph and film people.

A Government-funded course is expected to train 1,200 council employees in the next few months, followed by more later.

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