Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:00am on 02 Dec 2025,Tuesday International
Brent Council says it spends more than £30,000 a year cleaning reddish-brown stains caused by people spitting out paan on Wembley streets. The stains are found on pavements, walls, phone boxes and even flower-beds, and the council says some marks cannot be removed even with strong cleaning machines. Chewing paan, which contains betel nut, leaf, herbs and sometimes tobacco, is common in parts of north-west London. The council has begun a “zero-tolerance” drive with banners and patrols in hotspot areas. Offenders may face a £100 fine. Opposition leaders say the action is too slow and want stronger enforcement. (PC: BBC)
