Newz Desk, Durgapur: A London borough has expressed serious frustration over the growing problem of betel leaf and gutkha stains defacing public spaces, revealing that it spends more than £30,000 annually to clean spitted paan marks from walls, pavements and shopfronts.
The Brent Council said the unsightly reddish-brown stains—commonly associated with South Asian chewing habits—have become increasingly visible across the borough, prompting concerns that parts of London are beginning to resemble railway stations in India, Bangladesh or Pakistan.
In recent weeks, tiles along building walls, shopping areas and pavements have been found splattered with paan and gutkha spittle, leaving rust-coloured stains that are difficult and expensive to remove.
Council Blames South Asian Chewers, Announces Zero-Tolerance Policy
Brent Council has directly attributed the issue to members of the South Asian community, stating that many are spitting paan or gutkha openly on the streets. To tackle what it calls an act of “public defacement,” the council has announced a strict zero-tolerance policy.
Anyone caught spitting paan or gutkha in public will now face hefty on-the-spot fines, though exact penalty amounts are yet to be disclosed.
Viral Video Highlights the Issue
The problem drew wider attention after Brent Council posted a video on its official Instagram page.
The clip shows multiple locations across the borough where walls and pavements are stained with betel quid spit. A sanitation worker is seen scrubbing the stubborn stains from tiles as a narrator comments:
“A lot of people here are spitting and dirtying the streets. Brent Street now has enforcement officers patrolling. Those responsible will be caught. We’re cleaning everywhere to get rid of this mess. It costs us a lot every day.”
Council Leaders Welcome Strict Action
Councillor Krupa Sheth, who oversees Public Realms & Enforcement, welcomed the enforcement drive. She praised the council’s decision to take a tougher stance, saying residents have long demanded action against people who dirty public areas.
The council has increased the number of enforcement officers patrolling neighbourhoods where the problem is most visible. They are also exploring ways to raise awareness among communities about the environmental and financial costs of such behaviour.
A Growing Urban Concern
Local authorities say paan-spitting is not new to London, but the scale has grown significantly in the last few years, particularly in multicultural neighbourhoods. Removing the stains requires special cleaning equipment and strong chemicals, adding to municipal expenses.
Brent Council hopes that strict enforcement and higher fines will help curb the problem and restore cleanliness to public spaces.
Image courtesy@internet
