Brent Council allocates £30,000 each year to remove stubborn reddish-brown marks left by paan spitting across Wembley’s pavements and buildings. The traditional South East Asian preparation combines betel nut, tobacco and spices wrapped in a leaf, serving as both a breath freshener and mild stimulant.
The rust-coloured residue from this centuries-old practice has become increasingly problematic in North West London. Local authorities have announced stringent new measures to combat the issue.
The Labour-run council has introduced a zero-tolerance policy, with offenders facing fixed penalty notices reaching £100. This enforcement initiative targets what officials describe as behaviour causing significant health and environmental harm to the area.
Enforcement officers will patrol the streets as part of the council’s intensified response. The authority has erected warning banners at three key locations where the problem is most severe.
Brent Council is splashing out £30,000 yearly on clean-up efforts
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Even industrial-strength cleaning equipment struggles to eliminate these persistent marks. Council officials report that high-pressure water jets cannot fully remove the discolouration from affected surfaces.
The local authority characterises the situation as causing substantial harm to both public health and the environment. Multilingual signage, including messages in Gujarati and English, now alerts residents to avoid spitting paan in public spaces.
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The initiative extends beyond punitive measures. Residents can access individual support sessions through a public health programme designed to help people stop using tobacco, cigarettes and paan products.
Cancer Research UK has identified that paan containing tobacco carries health risks comparable to cigarette smoking, including elevated chances of oral cancer, gum disease and cardiovascular problems.
Dr Shazia Siddiqi, Brent’s clinical lead for primary and community care, explained: “We see patients with oral health issues linked to paan use. Additives like betel nut and tobacco, when eaten frequently in the paan can pose serious health risks.”
She warned that consistent betel nut consumption correlates with oral and oesophageal cancers, whilst tobacco creates dependency.
“Both can cause recurrent mouth ulcers and bleeding gums and can also weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infections like tuberculosis,” Dr Siddiqi stated.
The council has partnered with religious and community organisations to deliver educational workshops in mosques, temples and community centres, promoting awareness and cessation support.
Paul Lorber hit out at the Labour-run council
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Brent Council
Neil Nerva, the council’s cabinet member for community health and wellbeing, declared: “We’re committed to protecting residents’ health and keeping our streets clean. Paan spitting is not just unpleasant – it’s harmful, costly, and unacceptable. You are playing with your health, messing with your streets – let’s work together to stop paan spitting.”
Krupa Sheth, cabinet member for public realm and enforcement, stated: “I am delighted that we continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to those who ruin our streets, that includes those that spit out paan and stain street furniture. Don’t mess with Brent, because we will catch you and fine you.”
Opposition voices have emerged criticising the timing of these measures. Brent Liberal Democrats leader Paul Lorber accused the Labour administration of neglecting the issue for years.
“People in Wembley, Alperton and Sudbury have been dealing with disgusting chewing tobacco-spitting on our streets for years, while [the council] looked the other way. Now, suddenly, just before an election, they want credit for ‘cracking down’?” Mr Lorber told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The Liberal Democrats had previously called for enhanced enforcement in problem areas and advocated for prohibiting chewing tobacco entirely. “If the Labour council had taken real action sooner, our streets wouldn’t be as stained and filthy as they are today,” Mr Lorber concluded.