Ban smoking in public parks

Dame Sally said it was dangerous for children to see adults smoking in parks because they might decide to copy them. ‘We all know smoking is bad for health,’ she said. ‘So I welcome any measures to reduce both active smoking and its role-modelling in front of children.’

But Stephanie Lis, of the Institute for Economic Affairs, said: ‘This is an outrageous attack on personal freedom – a slippery slope on the path to banning smoking altogether.

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Park: People lighting up in public encourages children, the report said (picture posed by model)

‘Politicians must avoid this heavy-handed interference in the lives of ordinary people.’

And Simon Clark, of the smokers’ group Forest, said: ‘A ban on smoking in open air parks would be outrageous.

'There’s no health risk to anyone other than the smoker. If you don’t like the smell, walk away.

‘The next thing will be a ban on smoking in our own gardens in case a whiff of smoke travels over the fence.

‘The anti-smoking bandwagon is becoming farcical. It’s sad to see the Mayor of London encouraging such nonsense.’

Mr Johnson said the proposal should spark public debate. ‘One of the glories of London is that we are generally pretty laissez-faire about how people live their lives – provided they do not break the law and provided they do no harm to others,’ he said.

‘If we were to consider a ban on smoking in parks, we would need pretty clear evidence that this would have direct health benefits – in other words, that it would actually save lives. It is time for London to have that debate.’

The Government’s public health quango backed the idea of smoke-free parks.

Rosanna O’Connor, who heads the alcohol, drugs and tobacco division of Public Health England, said: ‘Parks and outdoor spaces should be healthy environments for people of all ages. Smoke-free outdoor spaces will help de-normalise smoking in our society by reducing the number of smoking role models for children.’

Professor Robert West, director of tobacco studies at University College London, said: ‘I would expect it to save lives by reducing reminders of smoking in those who are trying to quit and providing more incentive to stop.

‘I hope most smokers would see this as a positive step.’

Lord Darzi said Mr Johnson should use his powers over Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square to ensure they go smoke free.

He should also use his influence over the Royal Parks, the board of which he appoints. This would take in Hyde Park, Richmond Park, St James’s Park, Green Park, Regent’s Park, Kensington Gardens and Greenwich Park. Town halls would be encouraged to do the same in the parks they control.

It is hoped cities and towns up and down the country would follow suit.

‘The ideas and proposals in this report have been developed for London,’ said Lord Darzi. ‘Yet they could just as easily apply to other big cities in the UK.

'Hundreds of children take up smoking every week – two classrooms-full a day in London. Once they start they continue, since cigarettes are more powerfully addictive than narcotics.

Public health importance of smoking bans

The investigators also found that in homes without children, total home bans were more effective, which they say likely reflects the ultimate goal of quitting, rather than reducing second-hand smoke exposure for children.

Their findings highlight the public health importance of smoking bans - both inside and outside the home - to reduce tobacco use at both individual and societal levels, they say.

Ever since California banned smoking in public places in 1994, Dr. Al-Delaimy says the "positive impact" of that ban is still evident, as it has changed the "social norm."