NEW laws to stop people smoking in cars containing children could be impossible to police, North Yorkshire officers have warned.

From Thursday, it became illegal to smoke in a car containing children in an effort to protect them from the effects of tobacco smoke, and drivers will be fined £50 if found smoking with someone under-18 in the vehicle.

Police and local authorities have already said they can enforce the law immediately, but a period of education rather than enforcement is expected for some time before fines are issued.

However, the North Yorkshire Police Federation believe the new law would already be difficult to police, and will become more difficult in coming months.

Sergeant Mike Stubbs, chair of the Federation, said: "This is clearly a well intentioned piece of legislation and I hope it will persuade some people to change their behaviour. However for those who don't the only way this will bring about a change is through enforcement. 

"As a result of the Government's cuts that we have already suffered and those which we know are coming it's impossible to see how police can be expected to tackle this new offence when we're already struggling to cope with our existing demands."

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said this week the force would "be following the guidance issued and acting upon the new legislation and enforcing when reasonable and necessary", but further cuts to police budgets of between 25 and 40 per cent are expected in coming months, leading to fears of reduced policing capability on the roads.

Sgt Stubbs said: "This type of offence cannot be enforced through automated systems such as camera vans, which now tackle speeding. Our fear is that the additional cuts are as bad as expected, our roads policing capacity will be reduced to camera vans and the specialised team to investigate serious and fatal collisions."