Pub slapped with staggering £766 fine after owner smoked inside her own venue

It comes after CCTV footage showed her smoking in the bar.

The footage also showed her allowing customers to smoke on the premises.

Officers from Staffordshire police viewed CCTV evidence of Frisby and others as part of a unrelated investigation.

The footage showed the group smoking at the pub, outside normal trading hours.

Evidence was passed on to Cannock Chase Council, where the Environmental Health Service is responsible for enforcing smokefree legislation.

Frisby was later interviewed by Staffordshire Police and an Officer from the Council’s Environmental Health team.

Frisby admitted to both smoking and permitting others to smoke inside the premises, despite being aware that it is illegal to do so.

Five other people that were present were also issued with fixed penalties for smoking in a smoke free premises (an offence under the Health Act 2006).

Now officers from Cannock Chase Council have reminded people that the law around smoking is "clear".

Portfolio leader for environment and climate change at Cannock Chase Council Councillor Andrea Muckley said: "The dangers of breathing other people’s tobacco smoke are well known.

"These laws were brought in seventeen years ago to protect public health.

"The law is clear and simple.

"Anyone caught smoking in a smoke free place or anyone who allows smoking in such a place is committing an offence which results in a fixed penalty notice or prosecution.

“The Council greatly values the assistance of Staffordshire Police in this matter, which shows partnership working at its best.”