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Smokers banned from fostering childrern

By John Hirst

Smokers banned from fostering childrern

A controversial new policy to ban smokers from fostering children has been passed by a council.

The ban, which was passed unanimously at a cabinet meeting of Redbridge Council last night, means that children in the east London borough will not be placed with foster carers who smoke after January 2010.

Councillors say the move is crucial in protecting children from the harmful effects of passive smoking, but concerns have been raised that the ban could reduce the number of loving foster homes available to vulnerable children.

I know for a fact that the people who live either side of my house, who have young children, do not smoke in the house but instead have a smoke in their gardens. I fail to see what being a smoker has to do with fostering children if the fosterers take as much care to protect the children from passive smoking as do my neighbours.

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on November 05, 2008 (boomark / email).