No fines have been handed out across Staffordshire or Cheshire in the first two months of the smoking ban. Council officers have been out to ensure business premises, pubs and clubs are adhering to the legislation but say they have not encountered any significant problems. In Stoke-on-Trent, no fines, warnings or prosecutions have been issued. Peter Devaney, head of regulatory services at the city council, said: "Since July 1, we have visited 1,200 business premises during their normal trading hours. During those visits we have not found anybody smoking, and have therefore not issued any penalty notices." In Newcastle, a total of six premises have been issued with verbal warnings for allowing people to smoke. A spokesman from the borough council said: "Our health protection officer has carried out hundreds of visits to premises in the borough, and the level of compliance has been extremely high. The vast majority of businesses have been co-operative and helpful. "A total of six verbal warnings have been confirmed in writing. The council has not yet started any legal proceedings, but is continuing to monitor the situation." Staffordshire Moorlands District Council said there had been no reports of people smoking in public places, and officers did have concerns about an absence of no-smoking signs at some premises. "Council officers are continuing to regularly visit premises and work with owners and properties. Our main concern is that not all premises are displaying the required no-smoking signs. "These are legal necessities, which must not only be in the correct format, but must also be prominently displayed at the entrance to premises." A spokesman for Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council confirmed that warning letters had been sent out to a number of premises, but that no fines had been issued. Mike Fallows, owner of Brassingtons, in High Street, Newcastle, said: "The ban hasn't really affected us. From a personal point of view, it is nice to be able to go home not smelling of smoke."

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