Riot police storm pub after a smoker lights up in protest to
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http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-2341661...
It wasn't exactly the dramatic finale one cricket fan was expecting.
Having installed himself in his local pub to watch England play India, John Vaughan was enraged when the channel was switched over to football just as the cricket was reaching its thrilling conclusion.
So Mr Vaughan lit up a cigarette in protest. When he refused to extinguish it, staff pressed a panic button behind the bar.
And a few minutes later six riot police officers wearing protective gear stormed the pub.
Mr Vaughan had been watching the one-day international at the Copper Pot pub in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, last month.
The game was about to finish when the channel was switched to the England versus Israel Euro 2008 football qualifier.
Mr Vaughan said yesterday: "The cricket only had ten minutes left, but the football wasn't even going to start for another 45 minutes.
"We complained but nothing happened. So I decided to light up out of protest.
"Staff told me I couldn't smoke, but I said I'd had enough of being pushed around by the Government.
"They pressed a panic button and the next thing I knew, there were six policemen in the pub and two outside."
No action was taken against demolition boss Mr Vaughan after he agreed to leave.
There was a big cheer round the pub from about 60 people, added Mr Vaughan, "and even the police found it quite amusing."
Warwickshire Police confirmed officers had been sent to the pub on September 8 following reports of a man "smoking and being aggressive".
A spokesman said: "They explained why he should not be smoking, asked him to leave and he did so happily."
It wasn't exactly the dramatic finale one cricket fan was expecting.
Having installed himself in his local pub to watch England play India, John Vaughan was enraged when the channel was switched over to football just as the cricket was reaching its thrilling conclusion.
So Mr Vaughan lit up a cigarette in protest. When he refused to extinguish it, staff pressed a panic button behind the bar.
And a few minutes later six riot police officers wearing protective gear stormed the pub.
Mr Vaughan had been watching the one-day international at the Copper Pot pub in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, last month.
The game was about to finish when the channel was switched to the England versus Israel Euro 2008 football qualifier.
Mr Vaughan said yesterday: "The cricket only had ten minutes left, but the football wasn't even going to start for another 45 minutes.
"We complained but nothing happened. So I decided to light up out of protest.
"Staff told me I couldn't smoke, but I said I'd had enough of being pushed around by the Government.
"They pressed a panic button and the next thing I knew, there were six policemen in the pub and two outside."
No action was taken against demolition boss Mr Vaughan after he agreed to leave.
There was a big cheer round the pub from about 60 people, added Mr Vaughan, "and even the police found it quite amusing."
Warwickshire Police confirmed officers had been sent to the pub on September 8 following reports of a man "smoking and being aggressive".
A spokesman said: "They explained why he should not be smoking, asked him to leave and he did so happily."
Without getting into the debate surrounding the smoking ban, I can't see what the problem is here. Bloke does something he's not supposed to do, the establishment he is in exercise their right to remove anyone they want and call in the police to assist. The police turn up promptly and advise the guy to move on, the guy moves on, no-one is arrested, no paper work, no petty fine, no-one hurt. Good result really.
If the pub you were in decided to start watching another sporting event wouldn't it be easier to just move to another pub that does have it on? It's the pub's TV they can do what they want with it!
If the pub you were in decided to start watching another sporting event wouldn't it be easier to just move to another pub that does have it on? It's the pub's TV they can do what they want with it!
mark69sheer said:
I know it is wasteful but not the Police fault.
The panic alarm rigged to the police station shouldn't have been pressed.
without any further info the police would have acted suspecting a major disturbance.
I think the pub can expect a bill for this one.
Agreed. Might have been more appropriate, but just as stupid, to set off the fire alarm. The panic alarm rigged to the police station shouldn't have been pressed.
without any further info the police would have acted suspecting a major disturbance.
I think the pub can expect a bill for this one.
Could cause them to think a bit before changing channels in future though!
AJS- said:
Ok I'm hugely biased in this because I think you should be able to smoke in pubs, I quite like cricket and I hate all dominating football mania.
I'm with the wheezing old loony all the way
As I can't stand smoke in pubs & don't think I as an individual have a right to dictate what's on the TV in a pub (it's totally up to the staff & I don't even have that right in my own home because the kids hide the remote) then I'll side with the landlord.I'm with the wheezing old loony all the way
Chrispy Porker said:
I wonder what they mean by 'riot gear'
Shields and flameproofs?
More likely just PPE that everyone wears.
Still that would not be a story would it.
Fire extinguishers, flameproofs and ashtrays perhaps? Shields and flameproofs?
More likely just PPE that everyone wears.
Still that would not be a story would it.
Maybe they should have called the Fire Brigade.
Edited by hemibum on Tuesday 16th October 19:15
Sounds like another example of a PH debate without the possesion of the full facts to me. We know little about the manner of the man, apart from him refusing to put his cigarette out. If he was being agressive, bar staff may have been unable to deal with him and had little alternative. However, they wouldn't publish that because it wouldn't make interesting reading, would it?
Considering the fact that the only legal bars to smoke in the UK are located in the Houses of Parliament in London I would consider this guy to be a bit of a plonker, though it does raise questions over the safety issues concerning the 2nd hand smoke consumed by these workers in these places???
mr motor said:
Considering the fact that the only legal bars to smoke in the UK are located in the Houses of Parliament in London I would consider this guy to be a bit of a plonker, though it does raise questions over the safety issues concerning the 2nd hand smoke consumed by these workers in these places???
Well it might raise the question, but it has already been answered by the best science; the risk is either zero or so small as to be not worth considering.s2art said:
mr motor said:
Considering the fact that the only legal bars to smoke in the UK are located in the Houses of Parliament in London I would consider this guy to be a bit of a plonker, though it does raise questions over the safety issues concerning the 2nd hand smoke consumed by these workers in these places???
Well it might raise the question, but it has already been answered by the best science; the risk is either zero or so small as to be not worth considering.
Here we go again! ganglandboss said:
s2art said:
mr motor said:
Considering the fact that the only legal bars to smoke in the UK are located in the Houses of Parliament in London I would consider this guy to be a bit of a plonker, though it does raise questions over the safety issues concerning the 2nd hand smoke consumed by these workers in these places???
Well it might raise the question, but it has already been answered by the best science; the risk is either zero or so small as to be not worth considering. Here we go again! Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff