Police, pipe, action!
Thursday, July 5, 2007 
I was interviewed this morning, on BBC Radio Kent, on the subject of the Rev Antony Carr who walked into a police station in Tonbridge, Kent, lit his pipe, and asked to be arrested. (Full story HERE.) The Reverend Carr will no doubt be dismissed as eccentric but only because this appears to be an isolated case and he has chosen to light up in a police station rather than a pub or club.
In fact, his choice of location makes perfect sense. The problem that dissident smokers face, if they want to flout the ban, is that lighting up in a pub or a club is not a victimless act because the proprietor is at far greater risk of a substantial fine. Most smokers know this, which is why such acts need the active encouragement of a sympathetic landlord, and few proprietors can afford a large fine and the possible loss of their license.
Choosing a police station in which to light up also highlights the fact that smoking tobacco in a 'public' place barely registers as an offence, at least as far as the police are concerned. They've got better things to do with their time. The same could surely be said of our local authorities.
Reader Comments (9)
Yes, the police have so many better things to do, have they?
Like yesterday when I was sitting at my office desk and suddenly saw and heard, a police van in the street in front of me. I didn't know that they had some sort of speakers installed in their vehicles, but I certainly do now. For I heard this loud, disembodied voice come from the police van saying 'would the driver of the green Jaguar please put his seat belt on...now'
We have terrorists threatening to blow us all up, and the police's priorities are hollering through loudspeakers, telling drivers to belt up?
I suppose he was lucky that he wasn't smoking as well, I reckon he'd have gone down for at least a ten stretch for that.
Good on the Rev Antony Carr. Lets hope more people have the guts to do something similar. I wouldn't mind betting the police will do nothing, it would involve too much hassle and paperwork. Not only that, many of them smoke too and so are probably also against the ban, but can't do anything about it themselves.
I agree - good on the reverand!
18 days since I reported that my new passport had been stolen and fraudulently signed for.
4 days since I have neglected to put up a "No smoking" sign in my shop.
Anyone want to take odds on which I will get an official visit on first?
Yes - bravo to the Reverend !
Does anyone happen to know which brand God smokes, by the way..................?
That would be a Gawith & Hogarth undoubtedly Martin.
This wretched Country has got worse. Whats wrong with Good proper Ventilation? What makes my blood boil is not being able to smoke outside at a station. I think its really wrong. I can accect that no smoking on trains but for Goodness sakes lets have somewhere we can smoke, before we take a train journey. Regards AmandaH
I hope when it comes to election time that smokers will not forget what this government has done. Compromise seems to be a word they do not understand. Smoking rooms would have been the easy answer and made everyone happy.
God Bless Rev Anthony Carr. Smokers are peple too - don't mind being segregated mind very much being banned. and outraged that we are now criminalised - a good smoke-screen for the government though - takes the focus off all their failings and broken promises. I can't quite get, why they have zero tolerance for abuse and victimization etc etc, but it's o.k. to do this to smokers, makes no sense to me at all. just seems vindictive. Trouble is are all the parties the same? Anyone??
SMOKING SHOULD BE BANNED
I HATE ALL SMOKERS, AND THIS SITE DISGUSTES ME.
I WANNA KILL ALL SMOKERS
DIE SMOKERS DIE