London borough to consider anti-spitting byelaw after consultees support move

The local authority received more than 600 responses to its consultation, which asked: “Redbridge Council is currently seeking to introduce a by-law making spitting illegal and punishable by an on-the-spot fine. Would you support or oppose this bye-law?"

The ban was supported by some 94% of respondents, while it was opposed by 4.7%. The remainder did not know.

Redbridge said it was now looking at the next steps to introducing the bye-law.

“Should it be introduced then we would enforce it through our street scene enforcement team,” it added. “The team works across the Borough in designated patches and deal with enviro-crime like flytipping and littering; highway obstructions and abandoned & nuisance vehicles.”

In September 2013 the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s use of powers normally used to enforce against litter to tackle spitting survived its first test in the magistrates’ courts.

Two men who were issued with fixed penalty notices for spitting subsequently failed to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court and were found guilty in their absence.

They were each fined £160, and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and Waltham Forest’s £120 costs.

In July last year the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, approved Enfield Council’s plans for a byelaw that would make spitting in the street – without reasonable excuse – a criminal offence.