You wanna fight? Let's take this outside

Ashford Borough Council is the latest local authority to impose a 'voluntary' smoking ban on children's play areas.

The pilot project is being introduced at the request of Kent County Council Public Health.

The aim of the project is to provide a smoke-free environment for children and their families to enjoy, help protect children from the effects of second hand smoke, and reduce the number of children who start smoking after being influenced by those who do.

The non-smoking policy is voluntary so the responsibility is on local people to make the scheme a success. If the pilot project proves successful, the initiative could be rolled out in numerous play areas across Kent.

Cultural and Youth Projects Leader, SallyAnne Logan, said: "Sadly, smoking has become a fairly common practice in children’s play areas. Bringing in a smoke-free policy across play areas will help protect children from the effects of second hand smoke and provide a healthy haven for children to play and learn."

Personally I'd be very surprised if smoking in play areas "has become a fairly common practice". Where's the evidence? Has any research been carried out to justify this statement?

As for the "effects of second hand smoke", if there's evidence that smoking in the open air is a health risk to any bystander (including children) I'd love to see it.

Anyway, I did a short interview for BBC South East Today, to be broadcast this evening as part of a short report, and I'm on BBC Radio Kent in approximately 30 minutes.

Earlier today I was also asked this to comment on reports that lots of people are ignoring the ban on smoking in hospital grounds that was introduced in Scotland on April 1.

I didn't say it but I am silently rejoicing. Conversely I'm also angry at the sheer pettiness of a policy that has resulted in some hospitals fencing off their smoking shelters to stop people using them.

Incredibly, some NHS Trusts are employing people to monitor hospital grounds to catch people lighting up.

Have they nothing better to do than persecute ordinary people for smoking a legal product in the open air? Now that's what I call sick.

Update: Hospitals bring in more staff to tackle smokers (Evening News)

Comments

[Vinny Gracchus]

As we all know this is not about health; it is about social control. The issue of smoking in playgrounds is virtually nonexistent. It is constructed to push an agenda. There is no risk to others from second hand smoke. That is a construct too. Forcing the bans is about frustration that smokers have the nerve to ignore the 'healthist' guidance. It is time to roll back smoking bans!