City's smokers flouting ban

Walsall and Lichfield have not prosecuted anyone while Sandwell Council bosses said they had issued just three fixed penalty notices since legislation was introduced in July 2007 banning people from lighting up inside public buildings. In addition there is one prosecution pending.

But in Wolverhampton, it has emerged that 61 people have been caught flouting the ban.

Among those caught was publican Dial Singh, who became the first in Wolverhampton prosecuted for breaking the smoking law in the city in October last year.

The 46-year-old, who owns The White Rose in Temple Street, Bilston, was ordered to pay £2,000 after environmental health officers visited and found drinkers lighting up and ashtrays on the tables.

But he has since lodged an appeal against the prosecution after insisting the pub was not trading at the time.

Councillor Barry Findlay, cabinet member for the environment, said: "I think the figures reflect the area where there is still a lot of people smoking but the law is enforced well so people respect the law is there to protect everybody."

Sandwell Council neighbourhoods chief Councillor Mahboob Hussain said: "The overwhelming majority of pubs, clubs and other businesses have gone out of their way to comply with the legislation."

In the Dudley area one pub has been prosecuted, the Top Bell in Lye, in January 2007 for failing to prevent smoking.

In addition to this, five individuals have received fixed penalties for smoking in smoke-free places and one fixed penalty has been issued to a premises for failing to show correct signage.

Meanwhile, since its introduction 85 warnings have been issued in the borough to owners of premises for failing to prevent smoking and 54 individuals have been warned about smoking in smoke-free places.

In addition, 32 premises have been warned about failing to display correct signage.

Council spokesman Phil Parker said: "This year, 98 per cent of 900 premises inspected have been fully compliant."

Meanwhile, five fines have been handed out for smoking in public places in Cannock Chase district.

Only one fine has been handed out in Stafford.