Key Points
- Two Indian-origin men, Akshitkumar Bhadre Patel from Edgware and Hitesh Patel from Ruislip, were each fined £1,391 by the North West London Magistrates’ Court for spitting paan in public.
- Akshitkumar Bhadre Patel, 31, spat paan on Kingsbury Road near a local metro station on June 11, 2025, failed to pay the initial £100 fixed penalty notice, did not attend court, and was convicted in absentia.
- Hitesh Patel, 32, spat paan on Wembley Hill Road on June 12, 2025, also ignored the £100 on-the-spot fine, skipped his court hearing, leading to conviction in absence and the escalated fine.
- Brent Council spends over £30,000 annually cleaning paan stains from pavements, buildings, and street furniture, describing the stains as persistent and difficult to remove even with high-powered jets.
- The council enforces a “zero-tolerance” campaign with daily patrols by enforcement officers issuing £100 fixed penalty notices, banners in hotspots like Wembley, and prosecutions for non-payment.
- Paan spitting causes serious health risks, including cancer as per World Health Organization research on betel, and environmental damage.
- Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement, stated the council has doubled fines issued in the last year and warned: “Don’t mess with Brent because we have had enough.”
- The cases highlight ongoing issues in north-west London areas like Brent and Harrow, with enforcement intensified amid community concerns.
- Initial reports originated from Harrow Online, cited by India Today and others; Brent Council confirmed the fines as part of crackdown.
Brent, (North London News) March 19, 2026 – Authorities in the London Borough of Brent have imposed fines totalling £2,782 on two Indian-origin men, Akshitkumar Bhadre Patel and Hitesh Patel, for spitting paan on public streets after they failed to pay initial £100 on-the-spot penalties and skipped court hearings. The North West London Magistrates’ Court convicted both in absentia, escalating the penalties to £1,391 each as part of Brent Council’s zero-tolerance campaign against the practice, which costs the borough over £30,000 yearly in cleanup.
- Key Points
- Who Were the Men Fined for Spitting Paan?
- What Is Brent Council’s Zero-Tolerance Policy?
- Why Does Paan Spitting Cost Brent £30,000 Annually?
- What Health and Environmental Risks Does Paan Spitting Pose?
- How Has Brent Council Responded to Paan Spitting Complaints?
- What Criticism Has the Campaign Faced?
- Where Is Paan Spitting Most Prevalent in London?
- What Happens If You Ignore a Paan Spitting Fine?
- Broader Context of the Crackdown
Who Were the Men Fined for Spitting Paan?
As reported by Shounak Sanyal of India Today, citing Harrow Online, Akshitkumar Bhadre Patel, a 31-year-old resident of Edgware, was fined £1,391 by the North West London Magistrates’ Court for spitting paan on Kingsbury Road near a local metro station on June 11, 2025. Patel received an initial £100 fixed penalty notice but did not pay it, failed to attend his hearing, and the case proceeded without him, resulting in the fine increasing more than tenfold.
In a parallel case detailed in the same report, Hitesh Patel, 32, from Ruislip, faced the identical £1,391 penalty for spitting paan on Wembley Hill Road on June 12, 2025. Like Akshitkumar Bhadre Patel, Hitesh Patel ignored the original £100 fine and did not appear in court, leading to conviction in absentia. Firstpost coverage confirmed both men’s ages and exact incident dates, emphasising the rapid escalation due to non-compliance.
What Is Brent Council’s Zero-Tolerance Policy?
Brent Council has launched a robust zero-tolerance campaign against paan-spitting, involving daily patrols by enforcement officers in key hotspots such as Wembley. Offenders caught in the act receive immediate £100 fixed penalty notices, with clear warnings that non-payment triggers prosecution and substantially higher court-imposed fines, as evidenced by these cases.
According to Brent City Council statements relayed by India Today, the policy addresses paan spitting’s serious health and environmental damage.
The council has installed banners in three identified hotspots where paan-spitting is a major problem, and even high-powered cleaning jets struggle to remove the rust-coloured stains from pavements, telephone booths, and flower beds.
Why Does Paan Spitting Cost Brent £30,000 Annually?
Brent Council allocates more than £30,000 each year solely to cleaning paan stains, a figure repeatedly cited across reports from BBC, India Today, and Firstpost.
The dark red, rust-coloured residue from paan—comprising betel nut, lime, and often tobacco—proves persistent, defacing public spaces and straining civic resources in north-west London boroughs like Brent and neighbouring Harrow.
As per a BBC report referenced in India Today, the stains tarnish pavements and buildings, requiring specialised methods that even high-pressure jets cannot fully eradicate. Councillor Krupa Sheth highlighted this burden, noting the council’s determination to hold offenders accountable amid growing community concerns.
What Health and Environmental Risks Does Paan Spitting Pose?
Paan spitting causes serious health issues, with the World Health Organization identifying betel as carcinogenic, elevating cancer risks even without tobacco. Brent Council emphasises these dangers in its campaign, linking the practice to broader public hygiene problems.
Environmentally, the reddish-brown saliva-pa mixture leaves indelible marks on street furniture, complicating maintenance and contributing to the £30,000 annual cleanup bill. Officials describe it as a “persistent and costly nuisance” that defaces neighbourhoods.
How Has Brent Council Responded to Paan Spitting Complaints?
Enforcement has intensified with doubled fines issued over the past year, as stated by Councillor Krupa Sheth. She remarked:
“We’re continuing our zero-tolerance approach to those who ruin our streets, that includes spitters of paan who stain street furniture. 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.”
Cllr Krupa Sheth further declared:
“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.”
The Labour-led council offers one-to-one support for quitting paan and smoking, alongside patrols and awareness drives.
What Criticism Has the Campaign Faced?
The Brent Liberal Democrats, led by Paul Lorber, have criticised the initiative as “far too little, far too late,” arguing they long advocated for stronger action including a ban on chewing tobacco due to health risks and mess. Lorber stated:
“We have called for increased enforcement in areas where spitting frequently occurs and have even proposed a ban on chewing tobacco due to the associated health risks and the mess it creates.”
Despite this, council officials maintain the zero-tolerance stance, with Cllr Krupa Sheth asserting:
“I am thrilled that we maintain a zero-tolerance stance against those who defile our streets, including individuals who spit out paan and tarnish street furniture. Don’t mess with Brent, as we will identify you and impose fines.”
Where Is Paan Spitting Most Prevalent in London?
The issue prevails in north-west London, particularly around Wembley in Brent, where rust-coloured stains are frequently visible on surfaces. Incidents like those on Kingsbury Road and Wembley Hill Road underscore hotspots near metro stations and busy roads. Neighbouring Harrow has also drawn attention, with local outlet Harrow Online first reporting these fines.
What Happens If You Ignore a Paan Spitting Fine?
Failure to pay the £100 fixed penalty leads to prosecution, as seen with both Patels, resulting in court fines over £1,300 plus potential further costs. Authorities warn that cases proceed in absentia if defendants do not attend, significantly hiking penalties. Brent Council stresses this deterrence to curb repeat offences.
Broader Context of the Crackdown
These fines form part of a sustained effort launched late 2025, with announcements of patrols and banners. Coverage by Times of India, Firstpost, and India Today—attributed to correspondents like TOI’s London team and Shounak Sanyal—has amplified the story internationally, highlighting cultural practices clashing with UK public order norms. Harrow Online’s initial report triggered wider media pickup, ensuring Brent’s message reaches communities where paan chewing is common.
The council’s multi-pronged approach combines enforcement, education, and support, aiming for cleaner streets without targeting communities but focusing on behaviour. As patrols continue, officials anticipate more prosecutions to reinforce the policy’s effectiveness.
