People face fines for smoking or vaping near schools

People could find themselves being fined if they smoke or vape near schools.

The new rules brought in by Knowsley Council will also apply to other public spaces, such as playgrounds and outside libraries.

A council spokesman said the smoke-free and vape-free zones would be brought in with a view to giving people fixed penalty notices in the future.

A ban is already in place at The Prescot School. Principal Michael Reynolds said "the setting up of these zones to not be able to smoke or to vape outside the school can only be seen as a positive".

The authority said it was introducing the zones to protect children and young people in a range of places ahead of a new law coming into force next year.

The Tobacco and Vapes Act is set to come into effect on 1 January and will allow smoke-free rules to be extended to places such as playgrounds, schools and hospitals.

It will also introduce tougher controls on vape advertising and access for young people.

A council spokesperson said it was leading the way with the initiative, adding that "smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness in Knowsley and continues to contribute significantly to health inequalities".

Smoke-free and vape-free zones will be rolled out over the coming weeks across the borough.

Dr Sarah McNulty, director of public health for Knowsley, said the number of people who smoke in Knowsley "is higher than the national average".

"We recognise that children and young people in Knowsley need to be protected from the harmful effects of cigarettes and vaping," she said.

McNulty, who is also lead director for Cheshire and Merseyside's All Together Smoke Free programme, said the initiative extended the ban on smoking and vaping in indoor spaces "into the outdoors and particularly in places where children and young people will gather".

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are being brought in to give the council the ability to enforce the smoke-free and vape-free zones by fining anyone who continues to smoke or vape in one of the designated zones.

Enforcement would only be used where necessary, with the authority adopting a supportive, phased and intelligence-led approach, they said.

The council's cabinet member for health, Christine Bannon, said: "The introduction of smoke and vape free zones will help improve health outcomes in Knowsley and tackle the rise of vaping amongst our younger population.

"Too many children in Knowsley are exposed to second-hand smoke when attending school or visiting playgrounds and libraries across the borough."

The PSPO in Knowsley comes ahead of a new law that will make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.

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