Warwickshire News Mine

Former Regional Tobacco Policy Manager for the Department of Health and leading authority in tobacco control, the county’s new lead on substance misuse, Paul Hooper, has been invited by the Polish equivalent of environmental health officers to help them implement and enforce the anti-tobacco act at local and national levels.

Accompanied by Ian Gray MBE from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Paul will travel to Warsaw next week to offer expertise and share good practice at a two-day workshop taking place on 14-15 April.

The event, organised by Przemysław Biliński – Warsaw’s Chief Sanitary Inspector - and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, will address issues around tobacco control and look at the best methods to introduce and enforce anti-smoking laws.

The duo has been asked to share observations concerning the enforcement challenges faced by the United Kingdom since the ban on smoking in public was implemented in 2007.

Paul Hooper said: “It’s an honour to be asked to work with our Polish colleagues to contribute to the development of the country’s smoke free policy.

“The UK is widely recognised for successfully implemented its smoking legislation and this invitation is a testament to the work of colleagues in environmental and public health services who advise and enforce the law.

“The key to the success of the smoke free law in Britain is the simple and easy to understand legislation along with generating support from the public for something that protects people’s health.. We will be stressing these points when we present our experiences in Poland”

Link to WCC