Smoking 'police' to patrol bars and shops

Thousands of council staff will patrol bars, restaurants and shops this summer, ready to impose £50 on-the-spot fines for anyone breaching the smoking ban.

From 1 July, smoking in enclosed public areas or workplaces will be banned.

To prevent enforcement of the ban taking up police time, local authorities have been given £29.5m to hire new staff and train existing staff to patrol places of revelry across England.

Environmental health officers will be allowed to enter premises undercover at anytime, and may photograph or film people in the course of policing the law.

Businesses will be liable for fines of £2,500 if they fail to ensure their customers have complied with the ban.

Ian Gray, of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said: "Most councils will take a softly, softly approach at first. But there will be some occasions when action has to be taken and I am sure the officers will not shy away from that."

Smokers' groups say the scheme will be a waste of public money. Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: "The idea of public officials snooping on people is distasteful and disproportionate. It's like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

The British Beer and Pub Association labelled the plan "heavy-handed".