Buildings and maintenance / Smoking Regulations

Health Act 2006 – smoke-free premises

Section 2 of the Health Act provides that premises shall be smoke-free if open to the public. The provisions will be brought into force on 1 July 2007.

The Act creates offences of smoking in a public place, and of failing to prevent smoking in a public place. Those who control or are concerned with the management of those premises must stop any person who is smoking there from doing so.

Many church premises, and certainly all places of worship, are and always have been smoke-free. However, churches may have control over places such as halls where smoking has been allowed, and this must be prevented in all premises when the Act comes into force.

The Act also provides that any person who occupies or is concerned in the management of smoke-free premises must ensure that compliant no-smoking signs are displayed in accordance with regulations. The draft Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations stipulate the type, size and wording of the signs, and that they must be displayed prominently at each entrance. The requirement to display signs appears reasonable in relation to places of work and other premises where smoking was previously allowed, but not so in relation to places of worship where smoking has never been tolerated. The CCC is currently making representations to the Government about this, and we will keep dioceses informed about developments.

Council for the Care of Churches
13 March 2007