Key Points
- Brent Council in north London spends over £30,000 annually cleaning paan stains from public areas.
- Paan chewing is prevalent in parts of Brent, especially around Wembley, causing widespread red stains.
- Paan is a mixture of betel nut, leaf, herbs, and tobacco that produces stimulant effects when chewed.
- Brent Council has pledged a zero-tolerance approach to paan spitting due to health and environmental concerns.
- Enforcement officers will patrol hotspots; offenders could face fines up to £100.
- Banners have been installed in affected boroughs warning against paan spitting.
- Brent Liberal Democrats criticise the council’s action as delayed and politically motivated.
- Opposition calls for more consistent enforcement and a ban on chewing tobacco due to health risks.
What is the issue with paan chewing in Brent and how much does cleanup cost?
A north London council, Brent, spends more than £30,000 annually cleaning the distinctive dark-red stains left by paan chewing across shops, pavements, and buildings. This substance, a mixture of betel nut, leaf, herbs, and tobacco, is widely chewed within the South East Asian community. The council reports that paan stains—made up of users’ saliva mixed with tobacco—are visible on telephone boxes, pavements, flower beds, and other street furniture, particularly around the Wembley area. The stains prove exceptionally difficult to remove, sometimes resisting even high-powered cleaning jets, adding a significant financial and environmental burden to the council’s upkeep efforts.
Why has Brent Council adopted a zero-tolerance stance towards paan spitting?
Brent Council has announced a “zero-tolerance” approach to combat the paan spitting problem that causes serious health and environmental damage. The Council highlighted that the mess from paan is not just unsightly but also expensive and enduring in its impact on public spaces. To address this, the Council has installed banners in three of the borough’s hotspots where paan spitting is prevalent, signalling a firm crackdown. Enforcement officers will also patrol the affected streets, with individuals caught spitting potentially facing fines of up to £100. Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement, Cllr Krupa Sheth, warned:
“Don’t mess with Brent, because we will catch you and fine you,”
underscoring the seriousness of the initiative.
How has the opposition responded to the Council’s new crackdown on paan chewing and spitting?
The Brent Liberal Democrats criticised the council’s announcement, labelling it “far too little, far too late.” Their leader, Cllr Paul Lorber, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), accused the Labour-run council of neglecting the issue for years despite complaints from residents in Wembley, Alperton, and Sudbury. He said:
“Now, suddenly, just before an election, they want credit for ‘cracking down’? We demanded more enforcement in hotspot areas where spitting often takes place and have even pushed for a ban on chewing tobacco because of the health dangers and the mess it leaves everywhere.”
Lorber asserted the council’s previous inaction left streets stained and filthy, dismissing the current campaign as an election gimmick lacking real follow-through.
What is paan, and why does it cause such persistent environmental problems?
Paan is traditionally made from betel nut, betel leaf, various herbs, and tobacco, which users chew for stimulant or narcotic effects. It is culturally common among certain South East Asian communities. When chewed, users spit out a dark-red mixture of saliva and tobacco that stains hard surfaces intensely. These stains are very difficult to clean, often persisting despite effort and the use of high-powered cleaning equipment. The environmental impact includes damage to public property, making municipal maintenance costly and involving constant cleaning efforts.
What measures are being taken by Brent Council to enforce the new anti-paan policy?
As part of the crackdown, the council has raised public awareness with banners in frequent paan-spitting locations to deter the behaviour. Enforcement officers are now tasked with patrolling the streets to catch offenders in the act. Those caught spitting paan are liable to fines up to £100, representing a significant deterrent. This active enforcement aims to reduce the frequency of paan stains and encourage public responsibility, reflecting Brent Council’s declaration of a zero-tolerance approach to the issue.
