£80 fines for spitting are backed by magistrates

Waltham Forest has become the first council in the country to bring successful prosecutions for spitting in the street.

Two men were found guilty at Thames magistrates court on Friday after the council used anti-litter legislation to bring charges.

Khasheem Kiah Thomas and Zilvinus Vitkas were each handed £80 fixed-penalty notices in separate spitting incidents.

They were found guilty in their absence and fined £300 each.

Councillor Clyde Loakes said: “The judge upheld our definition of spit being waste, which means people can now be issued fixed-penalty notices for spitting, just as they would for littering. To have the judge endorse our position is a phenomenal result.”

Waltham Forest police have agreed for all their community support officers to issue fixed-penalty notices to anyone caught spitting in the street.

Hounslow council is also campaigning to outlaw spitting in public places. Enfield is waiting for final approval for the by-law allowing implementation of a spitting ban.