Police clamp down on smokers

Metropolitan Police officers, part funded by the council, have been enforcing smoke free legislation across the borough in a series of initiatives.
Partnership Task Force (PTF) officers joined the council’s smoke free and public health teams to remind residents that smoking in a car with a person under the age 18 is now an offence.
Under the legislation that was introduced on October 1, offenders can be fined anyone found flouting the law up to £50.
Police officers stopped cars with children entering Asda on the East Ferry Road, allowing council officers to explain drivers’ responsibilities.
The PTF will carry out a similar exercise on Chapman Street, Shadwell, in the coming weeks, where council officers will ensure workplace vehicles are compliant with no smoking legislation introduced in the Health Act 2006.
Council officers encouraged 19 residents to sign a smoke free home pledge, explain the negative health effects of smoking tobacco and promote stop smoking services available to them.
Cllr Amy Whitelock Gibbs, cabinet member for Health and Adult Services said: “This new legislation is another step in ensuring that the borough’s young people are free from the harms of secondhand smoke.
“Using tobacco in any form is very harmful to your health so we urge all residents to consider speaking to local stop smoking services. We know stopping smoking can be tough, so there’s lots of free advice and support on offer.”