POLICE have been nominated for an award for helping pubs remain smoke-free.
Officers from Kirklees Police Licensing Department will find out this week if they have won the One Award from Kirklees Council for supporting the Kirklees Environmental Health Team in Operation Smoke Free.
This has involved prosecuting pubs and clubs that flout the ban and giving individuals who ignore the law fixed penalty tickets.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield on Thursday.
Kirklees Licensing Officer Pc Dave Micklethwaite said: “The Police Licensing Team which also includes Richard Woodhead and Karen Eastwood has worked extremely hard to ensure licensed premises in the district are run responsibly and in accordance with the current regulations.
“The partnership work undertaken by the local authority Environmental Health Team has been instrumental in ensuring a quality of life to all members of the public.
“Operation Smoke Free has been about providing a clear message that we will not tolerate people breaking the law by smoking in public premises.
“Breweries and companies which own public premises have a clear responsibility to ensure that their tenants or managers comply with the law.”
Kirklees Chief Insp Vince Firth said: “This kind of partnership work is central to providing a safe and healthy environment for members of the public in Kirklees.
“This has been underlined in recent high profile prosecutions as part of Operation Smoke Free where individuals have been fined for breaking the law. Around 18 fixed penalty notices have also been handed out to those found smoking in public premises.”
