A REMINDER that dropping cigarette ends in the street is against the law has come from the Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft, just before the smoking ban comes into effect.

With smokers unable to have a cigarette in a pub or restaurant from next Tuesday likely to be lighting up outside on the pavement, Mr Crowcroft, whose parish will be most affected in this way, said smokers must be responsible for their own litter.

‘It is not right that any ratepayers of St Helier should find themselves any worse off due to the smoking ban, and so I hope smokers will behave responsibly with their cigarette litter,’ he said.

The Constable said business owners and proprietors should also ensure they provided adequate bins and facilities for their staff who smoked outside so that problems of excessive cigarette litter did not increase.

Mr Crowcroft said he regarded the forthcoming ban as an opportunity to review the parish’s policy on litter rather than as a problem.

The ban has come at the same time that a review on street cleaning in St Helier, started six months ago by parish department manager Phil Haig, is being completed.

‘Litter left by smokers in the parish is already a problem and now is the time to tackle it rather than let the situation become worse,’ he said.

The Constable said that many smokers did not seem to realise that it was illegal to throw a cigarette end out of a car window or drop it in the street as they walked along.

In some places in the UK, on-the-spot fines are given out to people who drop cigarette ends and other litter.

‘I’m not calling for that approach, but people should realise that if they break the law in this way they could be fined,’ he said.

Mr Crowcroft will also be monitoring whether the increase in the number of people smoking on the pavement outside licensed and other premises will lead to more noise being generated in the streets in the evenings.

‘Again, I would ask those smokers to behave in a responsible and reasonable way so nearby residents are not disturbed at night,’ he said.

The parish are due to have talks with staff from the Transport and Technical Services Department over the areas like roads for which they have split responsibility.

The majority of main streets where smokers will be outside premises come under the department’s control.

Among the issues in relation to litter which will be considered, will be the design of litter bins in the town precinct which have ashtrays on top.

‘These bins are proving unsatisfactory because cigarette ends are blown around causing litter,’ he said.

The Constable said he also realised there was a need for more general litter bins.

Mr Crowcroft said he believed that January was a good time for the ban to be introduced as it coincided with many smokers making a New Year’s resolution to give up, providing them them an added incentive.