New scheme to enhance local tobacco control announced

A new push to help local authorities, tobacco control alliances and health and wellbeing boards to cut smoking rates in their regions has been announced by Public Health England.

The government body has relaunched the CLeaR tobacco control assessment tool, originally developed by Action on Smoking and Health, a methodology that helps local bodies review their current tobacco control efforts and develop further actions to reduce smoking rates.

Measures may include more effective enforcement of existing legislation, commissioning and promoting new smoking cessation services and designating additional smoke-free areas, including playgrounds and parks.

Public Health England has agreed to provide CLeaR assessment training for two people engaged in tobacco control in each local authority area, with councils that complete the assessment awarded a CLeaR standard mark.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive at Public Health England, said: "By prioritising tobacco control, local bodies have the ability to transform the public's health by tackling the biggest cause of preventable deaths and health inequalities in England."

The government continues to look into new ways of cutting UK smoking rates, launching a consultation earlier this month on a proposed ban on smoking in private vehicles carrying children.