With the increased number of students being booked in 2008 for smoking in public places, the Tobacco Control Unit is now working with schools around the country to ensure this is not the same for this year.

Ifiremi Corerega, the head of the unit, said out of 309 cases looked into, 40% are students and this is a worrying trend.

He added they are drafting up a plan for the schools to take a proactive approach to the problem.

From the time the unit was set up in May last year, there were 220 people booked in the Suva to Nausori area, 57 booked from May to December last year in the west and 26 in the north.

The fine for people caught smoking in public places is a $50 spot fine.