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Dec 30, 2008
SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES
NEA has stepped up enforcement efforts
I REFER to the letter by Mr Adrian Choo, 'Please apprise us of the key steps taken to prevent a lame-duck ruling' (Dec 19).
While compliance with the smoking prohibition in Singapore has been generally good, National Environment Agency (NEA) officers conduct regular checks of places where smoking is prohibited by law and take stern action against smokers and management alike who violate the prohibition.
Because officers cannot practically be deployed everywhere at all times, we have identified hot spots for targeted enforcement. These are areas where we know the smoking prohibition is often violated. They include bus shelters, specific food shops and shopping centres, which have been identified during our routine surveillance and following feedback received from members of the public. The list of these hot spots is regularly reviewed and revised to ensure effective enforcement.
Since September 2006, NEA has engaged officers from private enforcement agencies to complement our enforcement presence. We have also steadily engaged more officers and extended our operation hours so we now operate every day of the year, including Sundays and public holidays. We also have teams operating from 11pm at night to 7am the next morning to check on 24-hour food shops, nightspots and other places where there has been feedback of smoking prohibition violations.
We wish to assure Mr Choo that the extension of the smoking prohibition with effect from Jan 1 to cover more indoor public places, lift lobbies, entrances and exits to buildings, playgrounds and exercise areas, will not be a lame-duck ruling. This is because, besides our extensive education efforts to both stakeholders and the public, more enforcement officers are being deployed to conduct more checks round the clock. We will not hesitate to take stern enforcement action against both smokers and management who violate the smoking prohibition.
Members of the public are encouraged to remind smokers politely not to light up in smoke-free zones.
NEA welcomes feedback on violations of the smoking ban. Readers can call our 24-hour hotline on 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255632) with details for our follow-up.
S. Satish Appoo
Director, Environmental Health Department
National Environment Agency
Dec 30, 2008
SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES
NEA has stepped up enforcement efforts
I REFER to the letter by Mr Adrian Choo, 'Please apprise us of the key steps taken to prevent a lame-duck ruling' (Dec 19).
While compliance with the smoking prohibition in Singapore has been generally good, National Environment Agency (NEA) officers conduct regular checks of places where smoking is prohibited by law and take stern action against smokers and management alike who violate the prohibition.
Because officers cannot practically be deployed everywhere at all times, we have identified hot spots for targeted enforcement. These are areas where we know the smoking prohibition is often violated. They include bus shelters, specific food shops and shopping centres, which have been identified during our routine surveillance and following feedback received from members of the public. The list of these hot spots is regularly reviewed and revised to ensure effective enforcement.
Since September 2006, NEA has engaged officers from private enforcement agencies to complement our enforcement presence. We have also steadily engaged more officers and extended our operation hours so we now operate every day of the year, including Sundays and public holidays. We also have teams operating from 11pm at night to 7am the next morning to check on 24-hour food shops, nightspots and other places where there has been feedback of smoking prohibition violations.
We wish to assure Mr Choo that the extension of the smoking prohibition with effect from Jan 1 to cover more indoor public places, lift lobbies, entrances and exits to buildings, playgrounds and exercise areas, will not be a lame-duck ruling. This is because, besides our extensive education efforts to both stakeholders and the public, more enforcement officers are being deployed to conduct more checks round the clock. We will not hesitate to take stern enforcement action against both smokers and management who violate the smoking prohibition.
Members of the public are encouraged to remind smokers politely not to light up in smoke-free zones.
NEA welcomes feedback on violations of the smoking ban. Readers can call our 24-hour hotline on 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255632) with details for our follow-up.
S. Satish Appoo
Director, Environmental Health Department
National Environment Agency
