London council bans smoking at home

A leading council representing one of the richest areas in London has banned smoking at the desks of home-working staff. 

 

Labour-run Hammersmith and Fulham Council, in what campaigners have dubbed a "moral crusade" against tobacco lovers, informed its staff that to stay in line with guidance issued in 2015 that, "any part of a private dwelling used solely for work purposes will be required to be smoke-free". 

 

This apparently also applies to their joint "bi-borough corporate health and safety document setting out the council's no smoking policy with Royal Kensington and Chelsea".

 

Kensington and Chelsea Council, who had told its home-working staff that "home workers should not smoke at their workstation during office hours", issued new guidance in February this year.

 

A council source for The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham said that no staff member had been disciplined for a breach of the smoking ban for home workers and that the advice, while still technically in force, was being replaced.

 

The directive is highlighted in a new report published by the freedom campaign the Manifesto Club, which has been funded by the pro-smoking group Forest. The report, which is titled 'Smokefree Ideology. How Local Authorities Are Waging War on Choice and Personal Freedom' found that of 147 councils with an explicit policy on cigarette breaks more than 100 councils banned smoking outside of council buildings and grounds. 

 

Similarly around 50 councils banned smoking and/or vaping breaks entirely even if workers were clocked out. This included bans on smoking or vaping while walking between work appointments.

 

Individual council restrictions and limitations were varied with Islington Council ordering its smoking staff to move away from its buildings at least 50m (54 yards) before smoking. Denbighshire banned smoking in civic centres, outside facilities and country parks. Pembrokeshire and Swansea have bans on smoking on beaches. Nottingham Council and Rushcliffe banned smoking at council events and Bracknell Forest banned smoking in council-managed open spaces.

 

The report's author Josie Appleton said, "This isn't about passive smoking risks – it's a moral crusade. Smoking is being treated as a shameful activity that should never be seen in public spaces or near official buildings." 

 

The Chairman of the Local Government Association's community well-being board, Councillor Ian Hudspeth said, "Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death. Reducing smoking rates is the single biggest thing we can do to improve the nation's health as it will reduce cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions and cancer, meaning people can live longer in better health. As responsible employers and public health leaders, councils make no apology for leading by example and looking to protect the health of their employees and the wider public."

 

 

Mandy Peters Solicitors 

Lewisham