Trade group hits out at 'smoke police' reports
The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers has called on local authorities to choose partnership over punishment when it comes to enforcing the smoking ban.
Chief executive Nick Bish blasted media reports that it would cost £29.5million to train 'enforcement officers' to use covert techniques to catch premises which flout the ban.
There have only been 11 penalty notices issued in Scotland in almost a year and that's proof positive that licensees are the best enforcersALMR chief executive Nick Bish.
He told morningadvertiser.co.uk it was "madness" and said the money would be better spent helping pubs - who will be in the front line when the ban comes in.
Bish said: "The front line of enforcement is going to be business owners and operators. In our industry, that's pub licencees, managers, DPS' and staff.
"That money would be better spent on educating the public - a lot of people still don't understand what the ban will mean - and on working out how we can deliver it together, properly.
"We don't want there to be a 'them and us' situation every time this conversation comes up.
"There have only been 11 penalty notices issued in Scotland in almost a year and that's proof positive that licensees are the best enforcers!"
Bish said local authorities and licensed premises would be on the same side when the ban came in - trying to ensure everyone complied.
He added: "It does seem madness to spend this money because we are in this together. They keep talking about 'partnership' then the next moment we hear there's going to be a man round the corner taking pictures with a camera!"
