GLASGOW, Scotland, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Police in Scotland say they don't plan to enforce a smoking ban that is expected to be in place by March 2006.
Top police officials told lawmakers they would not be involved with enforcement of a smoking ban, just as police in Ireland have done since the country's ban was imposed in March, the Scotsman.com reported Saturday.
The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents said that using beat officers to spend their time tracking down smokers would be a poor use of resources.
The police refusal to enforce a smoking ban opens the door to establishment of "smoking police" who would work under local authorities to patrol bars and clubs after the ban takes effect, a system similar to what has been set up in Ireland.
After the Cabinet meets Wednesday, Jack McConnell, the First Minister, will detail his plan to seek a bill by December. McConnell wants a total ban on smoking, but there are likely to be some limits.
