‘If you mess up our streets...’: Two Indian-origin men fined ₹3.46 lakh for paan spitting in London

Brent Council imposed a fine of £1,391 (around 1.73 lakh) each on the two offenders as part of its crackdown on the issue.

The action is part of the council’s broader efforts to tackle the growing problem in northwest London.

According to the council, Akshitkmar Patel was fined £1,391 for spitting paan on Kingsbury Road outside Kingsbury station, while Hitesh Patel was penalised with the same amount for a similar offence on Clarendon Gardens near North Wembley station.

Initially, both were issued £100 fines, but after failing to pay, the cases were taken to court, resulting in significantly higher penalties.

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement, said the council is maintaining a zero-tolerance approach.

“We’re continuing our zero-tolerance approach to those who ruin our streets, that includes spitters of paan who stain street furniture,” she was quoted as saying.

“Every fine we dish out is a clear statement to offenders: if you mess up our streets, we will find you and you will pay. That is why I am delighted that we have doubled the amount of fines that we have handed out in the last year.

“Don’t mess with Brent because we have had enough.”