Walsall is smoke free one year after ban
Date Published : 02 July 2008
July 01 marks the first anniversary of the smoking ban – and Walsall Council’s environmental health officers have already inspected over 1,000 premises to ensure they are adhering to the law.
Businesses throughout the borough have quickly adapted to the smoke-free law and the majority of people believe that a creating a smoke-free environment has had a positive effect in the health of people.
Since the ban came into effect on July 01 last year, Walsall Council has inspected over 1,150 premises – and 96 per cent of them have been found to be free of tobacco smoke.
Dr Judith Sunley Head of Public Protection said “Across the UK, businesses and the general public have quickly adapted to smoke-free law, with national compliance over the first nine months standing at over 98 per cent. Here in Walsall, with over 1150 premises inspected for compliance, there have been around 4 per cent where we have needed to give direction on compliance with the law, and this has typically related to the way in which smoking shelters have been constructed.”
Most have been given verbal advice, which follows the national protocol of tackling the issue gently to start with, and where there has been a breach of the smoking ban it has been followed up visits with written warnings. No prosecutions have been necessary to date.
Councillor Rachel Walker, portfolio holder for environment at Walsall Council, said: “Smoke-free law was introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of second hand smoke such as lung cancer, heart disease and asthma. Overall, businesses throughout Walsall have coped amazingly well and we have seen a very smooth transition to smoke-free workplaces and public places.”
“However, in line with the national trend, a small number of businesses have found compliance troublesome and whilst our enforcement officers are happy to advise and guide they will also consider enforcement action where necessary,” she added.
Although the primary objective of smokefree law is to protect employees and the general public from second hand smoke evidence suggests that smokers have also found that the law has created a more supportive environment for them to kick the habit. Nearly a quarter of a million people quit smoking with the help of local NHS Stop Smoking Services between April and December 2007 – a 22 per cent increase compared with the same period the previous year.
Contact us
The NHS Walsall Stop Smoking Service offers free support which can increase the chance of quitting successfully by up to four times.
Telephone 0800 169 9346