Such is my hectic, global trotting lifestyle I'd completely forgotten about this.

Last week I was asked to comment on the fact that the British Transport Police has launched an advertising campaign to encourage people to text them if they spot any nefarious or anti-social behaviour on trains.

The campaign gives examples of the type of "incidents and crimes" the public might like to report. Smoking, inevitably, is one of them.

The reporter and I had a bit of a laugh about this. After all, when was the last time you saw anyone smoking on a train? Also, by the time you've sent a text and waited for the arrival of the police (!), the miscreant will have finished his cigarette and could be long gone.

Anyway, we both thought the focus on smoking was ridiculous. I said I didn't want to sound too po-faced so I spent the next few minutes trying (and failing) to think of something funny to say.

The report appeared yesterday and I was quoted as follows:

"You can only laugh," said Simon Clark, director of Forest. "I'd be interested to know how many texts they get. I can't remember the last time I saw someone smoking on a train.

"I would have thought you might ask the person to stop or point at the many no smoking signs or tell a member of staff. I'm not really sure there's a need to alert the police.

"I wonder what the police will do when they get the text from one of this army of citizen spies? Will there be a Swat team at Watford Junction ready to follow a trail of smoke."

The quote that wasn't used read:

"Can we text complaints about people using mobile phones in the quiet carriage ? Or people eating a late night curry on the 11.30 from Kings Cross to Stevenage?"

Full story: Police want people to 'discreetly' text them about incidents on trains - including smoking.

ITV News also has the story, and a quote by me: Rail passengers asked to text police over smoking on trains.

Ditto the Daily Express: Passengers urged to text police if they see a smoker on a train so they can speak to them.

And the London Evening Standard: Police urge passengers to report people smoking on trains via a 'discrete' text.

Update: The BTP campaign is called 'Let's make a difference'. As far as I can tell it's very similar to a previous campaign, 'We get the message', launched in 2013.