Plans for 'shop-a-smoker' hotline

The ban is due to come into force next summer

A "shop-a-smoker" hotline will be set up to ensure people comply with the smoking ban, the government says.

The government said the hotline would go live next summer when the new rules come into force in England, because the ban would be largely self-policing.

People will be able to report their colleagues as well as venues which are flouting the new rules.

But smokers' lobby group Forest said "grassing up" was not the British way and it would not get many calls.

Evidence from abroad shows smoking bans were self-policed so this is a sensible measure Ian Willmore, of Action on Smoking and Health

Forest director Simon Clark said: "This shows how desperate the government has become. People won't use the phone line.

"Most smokers are law-abiding citizens, and I can't believe people will want to shop smokers. It is not the British way."

The government has already agreed legislation to ban smoking from all public places, including pubs and restaurants, from summer 2007.

Individuals and businesses found flouting the law could be fined.

It will be enforced by local councils, but health minister Andy Burnham said much of the responsibility would lie with members of the public to police it.

"We know from the experience of other countries that smoke-free legislation is largely self-enforcing.

"However, we are proposing to introduce a smoke-free compliance line as a supportive measure."

And Ian Willmore, from anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), added: "Evidence from abroad shows smoking bans were self-policed, so this is a sensible measure."