People are being asked not to smoke in their own home by some Black Country councils under a new policy designed to protect the health of workers.

Tenants and leaseholders in Dudley and Sandwell will be asked to stub out their cigarette when council staff visit their home. 

The move comes ahead of the nationwide ban on smoking in public places on July 1.

Read the full story in the Express & Star. 

People are being asked not to smoke in their own home by some Black Country councils under a new policy designed to protect the health of workers.

Tenants and leaseholders in Dudley and Sandwell will be asked to stub out their cigarette when council staff visit their home. 

The move comes ahead of the nationwide ban on smoking in public places on July 1.

In a “proactive stance”, staff at Dudley Council have been instructed not to light up when going into people’s homes and the authority wants tenants to also stay off the nicotine.

Similarly, Sandwell Council said it will be featuring an article in its June tenants’ newsletter asking people not to smoke when visited by social workers, neighbourhood officers and other staff.

Chief executive for Sandwell Homes Brian Oakley said: “Under our duty of care we will be asking tenants to refrain from smoking in the immediate vicinity of any employees. 

“It is our intention to include an article in our tenants’ newsletter in June.  Following this, employees will be issued with cards to hand out asking for tenants’ co-operation.”

Wolverhampton City Council is not planning to adopt the policy.