While we're on the subject of civil liberties, can I ask readers to shed light on what appears to be a grey legal area?
As a dedicated monarchist I took my two godchildren along to the Trooping the Colour yesterday. It was a beautiful sunny day, the crowds were big and the spectacle moving as always.
As an equally dedicated smoker I lit up on the Mall as we waited for the procession to begin.
Within a couple of minutes I was approached by a policeman who asked me to 'step away from the crowd.' This was easy simply because we were at the back with nobody behind us, and as I'm sure readers will know, the Mall is one of London's widest, airiest and leafiest thoroughfares.
I thought I was going to be spot-checked - we had seen the police frisking a number of spectators quite randomly. But no; this, as the policeman explained terribly apologetically, was because I was smoking. I protested and wanted to know on what basis this demand could be made of me. Apparently, some person in the crowd further along (no doubt an American tourist) had already complained to them about another smoker, so to avoid further complaints they were being pre-emptive with me.
The policeman told me that the law prohibited smoking in any place where 'the public were assembled.' This sounded distinctly dubious to me. As a smoker I'm fully and painfully aware of where I can and can't light up. But this one was new on me. Could readers let me know if I've missed something?
( I'd add that we had two bags with us, both of which could have contained a gun or bomb, and the Queen passed in clear view within feet of us. These were not searched. But I had to be warned for doing something I thought was totally legal).
