Press Release 1 July 2008

It's a year since England went smokefree on 1 July 2007. In Derbyshire it's helped 5766 people quit smoking.

In South Derbyshire the softly softly approach has been used with an information campaign with local businesses before the smoking ban began. On 2 July BBC East Midlands Today went out with the South Derbyshire team to see their approach to enforcement.

Says Cllr Heather Wheeler, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council, "The South Derbyshire way is to inform and educate people before we consider prosecution. By working with businesses we have had zero prosecutions so far in our District. In our Corporate Plan we make clear our intentions to improve the health of our community. Businesses, through supporting the smokefree legislation, are helping us in our work."

Staff from South Derbyshire District Council have inspected over 900 premises and vehicles such as private hire cars and lorries. More than 99% didn't allow smoking and 99% had the no smoking signs which are required by law. There have been 26 complaints of people smoking in an enclosed public place, which have all been investigated with some still being monitored. The Council has only sent out 21 written warnings and at present has not issued any fixed penalty notices.

Cllr Heather Wheeler continues, "Our staff have not only been involved with enforcement. Working with the Derbyshire Primary Care Trust and Derbyshire Action on Smoking we have promoted the Derbyshire County Stop Smoking Service which has helped 5766 people quit smoking in the county. We know from the NHS Health Profile for 2008 that smoking kills at least 120 people every year in South Derbyshire. As well as having a healthier body, those with a twenty a day habit can have a healthier bank balance to the tune of £200 a month."

If you're one of the three in every four smokers who want to stub out their cigarettes for good, the Derbyshire County stop Smoking Service is there to help you. Call them on 0800 085 22 99.