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by linkup
on Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:37 am |
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Any U.K. smoker can find lots of U.K. stuff here,but there is one recent thread that will be of interest to you all:
Go to the "Forum" then "News" then click on the thread "THIS is What I'm Talkin' About!" |
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linkup
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by BWilliams
on Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:27 am |
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BWilliams
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by linkup
on Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:50 pm |
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2007/06/13/nsmoke113.xml
Secret smoking police in workplace
By George Jones, Political Editor
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 13/06/2007
Smoke-free England
Employers will be encouraged to spy on staff to enforce the ban on smoking in public places in England under Government regulations made public yesterday.
Businesses will be urged to keep written records of anyone lighting up in defiance of the ban
New regulations to implement the ban from July 1 will give the go-ahead for a "snoopers' charter" of heavy-handed surveillance and zealous local authority inspectors, said Eric Pickles, the Tory local government spokesman.
The ban will bring England in line with the rest of Britain and covers virtually all enclosed public places including offices, factories, pubs and bars, but not outdoors or in private homes.
England's 3.7 million businesses will be urged to keep written records of anyone lighting up in defiance of the ban. A smoking incident form is provided for firms to fill out, and they are told to pass the detailed records to town halls "to inform them of the occurrence".
These forms will provide sufficient evidence for town halls to levy £50 fines. If any individual fails to provide assistance or information to the state's inspectors when requested, they can be fined £1,000. Managers who fail to stop someone smoking in defiance of the ban face a fine of up to £2,500.
Guidance sent to councils states: "It is recommended that persons in control of smoke-free premises...keep a written record of any incident where an individual smokes on the premises in contravention of the legislation, together with the action taken by any members of staff and the outcome."
Local authorities will act as the primary enforcers for the ban, being able to levy fines and keep the revenue.
The guidance authorises the use of undercover and "intrusive" surveillance, which includes devices such as hidden cameras. It asserts that the Human Rights Act and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act provide no rights against snooping because it would not be on residential premises and is necessary to protect public health.
Town halls are told to draw up an "enforcement protocol" and get police officers to assist in "targeting individuals as part of a pre-arranged programmed activity".
Mr Pickles said that involving the police would displace officers from tackling violent crime and burglary.
"Experience from abroad shows that smoking bans are largely self-enforcing," he said. "I am concerned that Labour ministers are giving the go-ahead to a snoopers' charter of heavy-handed surveillance and zealous inspections...this is a municipal sledgehammer to crack a nut.
"Step by step, Labour ministers are introducing a Stasi state - giving ever stronger powers for state officials to spy and enter private property, and now, even asking bosses to act as secret police."
Mr Pickles said councils were under such intense financial pressures that a "town hall Taliban" could be tempted to use the smoking ban as a cash cow.
Health scheme 'fails'
A £24 million Government initiative to help smokers is not working, say experts.
NHS trusts use drugs and "behavioural support" to help smokers quit, allied to interviews and telephone support.
But research for tomorrow's National Smoking Cessation Conference found that the numbers on medication who were giving up without the support were the same as those giving up with it. |
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linkup
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by gilster
on Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:14 pm |
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Freaking High School Hall Monitors
NERDS
Nicotine
Environment
Restriction
&
Detection
Spys[Specialists]
NERDS-NERDS-NERDS-NERDS-NERDS |
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gilster
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by linkup
on Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:34 pm |
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| Gilster, I agree.If the Brits don't riot and go wild over this tyranny,I will be amazed. |
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linkup
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by gilster
on Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:54 pm |
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gilster
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by linkup
on Wed Jun 13, 2007 2:06 pm |
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You know,I wonder how many smokers are going to die as a result of the UK shutting down their smoking,and causing a death shock to their bodies.Same goes for US Businesses messing with smokers lives.
I like Audrey Silk's comment from NYCLASH. |
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linkup
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by Scubalady
on Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:15 am |
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Hiya,
I looked over some docs on the website of HM Treasury and there were some real interesting revelations. In 2000, they devised this strategy to stop smuggling cigs from the continent. They invested hundreds of millions in detection equipment and sharply upped the fines if you get caught (There's some really obscene stuff there when you look at the penalties). Then they talked about revenue.
In 2000, they made about 10+ billion pounds in cig taxes. Their projection was to raise the revenue by 6 billion over 6 years by going after the people who buy counterfit cigs. They, too, want you to buy the highly taxed brand cigs.
Their report in 2006 then confirms that they reached the target of 6 billion pounds in increased revenue over 6 years. So they made a cool billion a year on average off of their measures. Nice going Britain <sarc>
The irony is that in another document of March 2006, the HM Treasury reports that it has relaxed various regulations on the import of alcohol and the labeling of alcohol and increased the tax on booze at the same time. So turn them into alcoholics, raise the tax and then ban the booze...
... we'll probably get the same shite over here in the US before long.
Funny thing is, on the alcohol pages, there was no mention of the "public health objective." Same hypocrites, different country. |
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Scubalady
Puffer
Joined: Jun 08, 2007
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by Colin
on Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:13 pm |
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Hi Folks,
I havent been here for a while, please forgive me. I have been real busy with Freedom to Choose, FORCES, and travelling with work.
The good news is this (I promised to update you):
LANDMARK LEGAL CHALLENGE TO NATIONAL UK BAN ON SMOKING NOW IMMINENT
Press Release :
Proposed Judicial Review in relation to the Health Act 2006 (“the HA”) and the Smoke-free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007 (“the Regulations”).
Freedom 2 Choose is an unfunded volunteer group of licensees and members of the public operating on donations. It is important to understand that their campaign is not about the promotion of smoking; many of the members are not and have never been smokers. Fundamentally, F2C are about fighting against injustice and erosion of freedom and personal liberties. Freedom 2 Choose has a petition of 16,500 signatures and is still growing in number with online support from public hitting about 35,000 approximately.
A pre-claim letter before action was sent on 12th June 2007 by the solicitor on behalf of Freedom2choose to The Attorney General and The Secretary of State for Health referring to a proposed judicial review of the compatibility of certain Convention rights guaranteed by the Human Rights Act 1998 (“HRA”), namely:
a) Article 1 of the First Protocol as they involve a restriction on the peaceful enjoyment of possessions. The provisions amount to a control on the use of property. Those restrictions are disproportionate.
b) Article 8 by a failure to respect the right to privacy of all those individuals who wish to make use of the facilities of public houses and social and members clubs and to smoke there and constitutes an infringement of their rights under Article 8(1) ECHR and that restriction is not justifiable. Here we rely on the decision of the Court of Appeal in R (Countryside Alliance) v Attorney General [2006] (legal challenge against fox hunting), which raises identical human rights issues. This case is currently awaiting to be heard by the House of Lords.
In simple terms, our various client groups which Freedom2Choose represent, wish to live their personal lives as they choose without interference from the State.
c) The interpretation or validity of regulation 11 of the Regulations prohibiting smoking in taxis for hire to the public. It is argued that the Regulations are unclear, ambiguous and contrary to the intention of Parliament and therefore must:
either be interpreted so that it does not prohibit the driver of the vehicle from smoking at a time when the vehicle is not, in fact, carrying members of the public or: ,if it is not capable of being so interpreted, then the Regulation is incompatible with Article 8 ECHR and Article 1 of the First Protocol.
Time Frame for Government Response to Letter before Action
We have requested a response with 14 days. In the absence of an adequate response, we shall proceed with a full legal challenge in the High Court on grounds of fundament infringement of these rights prior to 1st July 2007. This will be a legal test case with significant wider public interest.
For further information, please contact:
Jaswinder Gill
Human Rights Lawyer (0208 774 9570) Jaswinder.Gill@ormerods.co.uk
Partner
Ormerods Solicitors
15.06.07 |
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Colin
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Joined: Jul 03, 2006
Posts: 158
Location: Banff, Scotland
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by Colin
on Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:26 pm |
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Bill,
I forgot to add that you are quite welcome to use the press release on your news section.
We are sending it out to the UK Press tonight.
It should piss off a few anti's.....  |
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Colin
Smoker
Joined: Jul 03, 2006
Posts: 158
Location: Banff, Scotland
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