Inmate seeking jail smoking penalty

A prisoner concerned about his exposure to second-hand smoke is fighting at the UK’S highest court to make illicit lighting up in jails a criminal offence.

Paul Black has taken his case to the Supreme Court in London in a bid to win what he says is the same level of protection from the risks posed by passive smoking as “nonsmokers living in the wider community”. Yesterday’s proceedings were heard before a panel of five justices. Mr Black is an inmate at HMP Wymott in Lancashire.