Yobs may be fined for spitting on pavement

Council bosses in Cannock Chase are considering bringing in cash penalties for the 'repulsive' habit.

Only a handful of local authorities across the UK have brought in the legislation since an original nationwide ban which then carried a £5 fine was rescinded by the government in 1992.

But former police officer Councillor Paul Snape said the idea was 'great in theory but unworkable in practice.'

The Labour-run council is meeting on Thursday to discuss making spitting in the street illegal.

If introduced, £50 fixed penalty notices will be handed out to offenders, just as they are for littering or dog fouling.

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Waltham Forest, in London, was the first local authority to bring a successful prosecution for spitting in a public place at the end of last year. Since then it has handed out dozens of penalty notices.

Two men who challenged their prosecutions in the courts lost their case and were each ordered to pay £300 in fines and legal costs.

But Councillor Snape, who worked in the vice squad in Wolverhampton and was deputy chairman of the Police Federation when he retired, said: "As a former police officer with 31 years' service, I can only ask, who is going to enforce this?

"I envisage problems in gathering evidence - people could just say they were having a coughing fit.

"In my view it would be easier to approach an offender and say 'Please don't do that.' The alternative seems unenforceable to me."

There was support for the suggestion when it was first mooted last year and more information was called for by Cannock councillors.

A report to the cabinet this week says: "Historically, spitting has aided the spread of infection diseases, notably tuberculosis(TB). In more recent times with improved hygiene and living standards and routine immunisation, its public health significance has diminished.

"Those councils that have taken a stand on the issue of spitting appear to have received considerable public support. Spitting in public places is generally regarded as a repulsive anti-social habit."

Councillor Carl Bennett, cabinet member for the environment, has in the past spoken in favour of the idea. He said: "We want to attract visitors to the district and if visitors can see that our environment is friendly and clean, then it is more likely they will come back.

"By encouraging visitors into our district it will benefit the local economy. We currently issue fixed penalty notices for dog fouling and littering so why not for spitting?

"The council is investing over £400,000 in town centre improvements across the district between 2012-2014. We hope by introducing this measure we hope that residents will have more pride in the appearance of the district."

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