Highlights
- Two Indian-origin men have each been fined £1,391 by North West London Magistrates' Court for spitting paan in Brent.
- Both men failed to attend their court hearings leading to higher fines after originally being issued £100 fixed penalty notices.
- Brent Council spends more than £30,000 a year cleaning paan stains from streets and public spaces.
In a similar case Hitesh Patel, 32, from Ruislip, was also fined £1,391 by the same court for spitting paan on Wembley Hill Road on 12 June 2025.
Like Akshitkumar he failed to appear at his hearing leading to a conviction in his absence and a much higher penalty than the original £100 fine.
Costly street problem
The cases come as Brent Council ramps up its crackdown on paan spitting which costs the borough more than £30,000 a year to clean up.
Enforcement officers carry out daily patrols across key areas in Brent and anyone caught spitting paan is given an on-the-spot fine of £100.
Authorities have made clear that failing to pay can lead to court and much bigger fines as both cases show.
The council's crackdown is part of a wider effort to keep streets clean and improve the look of local neighbourhoods.
Officials are also working to raise awareness within communities about the legal and environmental impact of paan spitting.
Brent Council has made it clear it will continue to pursue those who ignore fixed penalty notices through the courts where fines can rise significantly above the original amount.
