Yobs who spit and litter on our streets will be facing £75 fines from the beginning of next year, with a council chief vowing: “We will no longer tolerate this behaviour.”

Harrow Council will introduce the fines after 3,000 concerned citizens signed an authority-backed petition launched to gauge if there was local appetite to tackle the problem.

Councillor Varsha Parmar, Labour’s cabinet member for environment, crime and community, said: “The residents spoke and we listened.

“I am delighted to announce that after receiving a petition from residents we have now been able to introduce on the spot fines for littering and spitting in Harrow.

“Everyone in Harrow has a part to play in keeping our streets clean. Spitting is a disgusting habit and littering makes our streets look filthy.”

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Officers from the council are now beginning a programme to inform people of the incoming fines, which will be issued in the form of a fixed penalty notice as to not waste police time.

Mrs Parmar added: “Introducing these fines shows we will no longer tolerate this behaviour and we are committed to tackling this problem.

“However, this is not all about enforcement; our priority is to educate and work with the community to ensure that people won’t spit or litter in the first place.”

Fines will be £50 if paid within a 10-day period of the charge being issued for littering, spitting, disposing of gum on public pavements or chucking cigarettes on the street.

A wider campaign to stop littering, dog fouling, fly tipping, fly posting and the abandoning of cars across Harrow will coincide with the introduction of the new fines, with a £200 charge set for those who abandon vehicles, and £75 for those caught carrying out graffiti or fly posting.

Council officers and police community support officers could use body worn cameras to gather evidence before issuing a fine.