Residents in Harrow have raised growing concerns about chewing tobacco and paan spitting, with the issue particularly noticeable in Rayners Lane and more recently in North Harrow.
Paan, which is made from betel nut and leaf, herbs, and often tobacco, produces a stimulant effect when chewed. But once spat out, it leaves a blood-red mess on pavements, bins, and even lamp posts. Residents say in Rayners Lane it is now common to see the stains on the streets – especially outside takeaway restaurants and retailers that sell the product.
A new shop in North Harrow selling paan has prompted a petition from local residents, who are worried about the potential impact on cleanliness in the area.
Harrow Council has already taken enforcement action on the matter. Last month, officers seized a large quantity of illegal tobacco in Rayners Lane as part of an ongoing crackdown on spitting and the sale of unregulated products.
One member of the Harrow Online Group on Facebook said: “Great news for the good folks of North Harrow. Just a few weeks since this shop opened and already the bins are starting to be redecorated!
“Why oh why is this vile product allowed to be sold?”
Although retailers do not need a special licence to sell chewing tobacco products in the UK, they must be registered with HMRC and follow strict regulations on storage and sales.
Residents say the volume of the brown-red substance now seen on the ground, particularly in Rayners Lane, shows more needs to be done to stop the problem from getting worse.
A spokesperson for Harrow Council said, “Paan spitting is disgusting, unhygienic and costly to remove. We know this is a real issue for local residents, and we have been carrying out a lot of work to tackle the issue. Our Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) prohibits spitting in public and fines of £100 are issued to anyone caught.
“We have refreshed our Paan Action Plan to target hotspot areas where paan spitting in prevalent. In July alone, 33 fines were issued to those caught spitting in public. Enforcement officers have visited businesses selling paan, issuing warnings and reminding them of their legal responsibility to maintain clean shopfronts. A recent Trading Standards operation recently saw more than 4000 packs of illicit tobacco and 5000 illegal cigarettes seized as part of our strategy to deal with the issue. Delivery drivers and their companies have been warned about the consequences of paan spitting.
“We are committed to keep our streets clean and safe, and we’ll take action taken for undermining our efforts.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
For news tips, press releases or enquiries, contact Chris at info@harrowonline.org.
