Rock star Doherty could be hunted by smoke police

Rock singer Pete Doherty could be in trouble for ignoring the smoking ban while playing a gig in Scotland.

According to reports the renowned trouble-maker blatantly flaunted the ban onstage in Inverness on Saturday night - witnessed by 750 music fans.

Doherty and two other members of his band, Babyshambles, were seen lighting and smoking cigarettes at the town's Ironworks venue.

At one point Doherty reportedly had four​ lit cigarettes in his mouth at once.

A spokesman for Highland Council, who monitor the ban in pubs and clubs, said they would not take action unless they received a formal complaint.

He is not above the law. If there is evidence there then action should be taken.​MSP Stewart Maxwell.

However MSP Stewart Maxwell, who introduced the bill which provided for the smoking ban, told the Highland Press and Journal: "I think that the council should not turn a blind eye. In other parts of the country, the council has gone into pubs, and have seen taxi drivers smoking in their cars and have handed out warnings and fines.​

"They haven't waited inside their offices until someone complained.

"If taxi drivers can be fined for smoking then the idea that celebrities can get away with it is outrageous. The council should be keen to make sure that public displays of breaching the law are clamped down on."

Maxwell added: "Pete Doherty is well known as someone who causes controversy and it doesn't surprise me that he has done this. But he is not above the law. If there is evidence there - and I am sure there were hundreds of witnesses - then action should be taken."​