THE number of fines issued to smokers who were caught lighting up illegally in Inverclyde has hit a five-year low.

Inverclyde Council issued five fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for smoking last year, three of which were paid.

The figure was lower than 2021/22’s total of 17 fines and marks a sharp decline in the number handed out to smokers in recent years.

In 2018/19 the local authority issued almost 50 fines for smoking, bringing in over £1,200, while in 2019/20 officers handed out 31 for a total of £670.

Last year’s fines brought in just £90 for Inverclyde Council.

Of the FPNs issued in the last five years, almost 60 percent were given out to smokers in Greenock, with a further 26 per cent of fines being handed to those lighting up illicitly in Port Glasgow.

Smoking has been banned in enclosed public spaces such as workplaces, pubs and restaurants since 2006.

The council are able to issue a fixed penalty fine of £50 to anyone who lights up in one of the areas covered by existing legislation and can levy a further £1,000 fine to those who refuse to give their name and address to an enforcement officer.

Proprietors can also face a £200 fine for not adhering to the legislation.

Recent research from charity Asthma and Lung UK has shown that Inverclyde residents are among the people most likely to die from lung conditions.

The charity's statistics looked at conditions such as asthma, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition which is mostly caused by smoking.

They have stated that the reasons why certain areas had worse health were 'complex' but have suggested that high air pollution, high smoking rates or poor quality housing could be factors.

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Inverclyde Council said the local authority was continuing to enforce anti-smoking legislation and that very few instances were coming to the attention of its staff, which they claim reflects a good overall compliance with the law.

A spokesperson added: "The Council supports the community through facilities and enforcement action to help tackle anti-social behaviour.

“Enforcement is always a last resort but the data shows that we will take action if required though we would always prefer that we didn't have to.

“We rely on information to carry out any enforcement action and would encourage the community to let us know about the actions of the small minority who carry out anti-social behaviour. "