MSPs To Hear Car Smoking Ban Fears

MSPs will hear fears that police officers could be diverted away from tackling terrorism and organised crime to enforce a proposed ban on smoking in cars with children in them.

Liberal Democrat MSP Jim Hume wants smokers to be fined £100 if they are caught lighting up in a vehicle when under-18s are present.

But Police Scotland and others have voiced concerns about the impact it could have on the force if his member's Bill - which has already won the backing of the Scottish Government - is passed.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins and Chief Superintendent Iain Murray will raise the issue when they give evidence on the Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Bill to Holyrood's Health Committee.

While Police Scotland backed the principle of the BIll, it said plans to make the the force the sole enforcement authority'' for the legislation should becarefully considered''.

As a public health issue, is it proportionate or necessary to justify the use of limited police resources to enforce it?'' Police Scotland said.

The proposed legislation will only have an impact on public health and, whilst commendable, does not sit comfortably within the Police Scotland policing plan and the force priorities.

Police Scotland would, therefore, question the use of police resources to enforce this legislation and their diversion from work focusing on the force priorities such as organised crime and counter terrorism, for example.

The work of road policing officers in particular is focused on reducing road casualties and tackling road crime, and whilst this is a broad remit there is little, if any, room for matters of public health.''

Mr Hume said: I am delighted to have Police Scotland's support for the aims of my bill.

It chimes with the significant 85% of Scots who have said they would like to see children protected from second-hand smoke whilst in the confines of a car.

This will help moves towards the Scottish Government's stated vision for a smoke-free Scotland by 2034.

In 2013/14 Police Scotland detected over 36,000 seatbelt offences and just over 34,000 mobile phone offences. This demonstrates that detection is perfectly possible.''

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Alex Johnstone said: Of course, no-one wants to see someone smoking in such a confined space when there are children around.

But the reality is almost nobody does this and taking an educational approach would be far better.''

Mr Johnstone added: We have said from the outset that it will be nigh-on impossible to enforce this.

Police Scotland has now confirmed this, adding that it will actually be an inconvenience to policing in general if it has to start pursuing this.

Officers are telling MSPs that bringing this into law could hamper tackling organised crime and terrorism. That's quite a stark warning by anyone's standards.

With the force's limited resources, we really need officers to be concentrating on more important matters.''