How many council officers will be enforcing the smokefree legislation?
A government-run training course is expected to be completed by around 1,200 council officers ahead of 1 July. That is not to say that there will be 1,200 officers patrolling bars and clubs each day – they will simply be certified to enforce the Health Act 2006 as and when is necessary. Reports that councils will have dozens of “smoking police” patrolling city centres are simply incorrect. The majority of councils will be utilising existing officers, working in environmental health to undertake smokefree enforcement duties as part of their ongoing job role.
