A woman who slipped on spit says she is “frustrated” by the way Harrow council is tackling the anti-social behaviour.

Catherine O’Neill, of Wealdstone, dislocated her shoulder and nerves and tendons in her back were torn after she slipped on spit at a bus station in 2012.

She gathered more than 600 names in a petition for a spitting ban and says the council promised her something would be done.

She said: “I was in a really bad way and had to have a lot of operations on my shoulder - it changed my life forever.

“I’ve always thought spitting was disgusting but since my fall I am a lot worse.

“It is full of germs and is disgusting.”

In January 2014, the Conservative-led Harrow council launched their own petition to garner support for a spitting ban, with the proposals being approved with cross-party support in September 2014.

Harrow council were then given the powers to issue the fines at the beginning of this year.

So far, the council says that 178 fines of £75 have been issued since April in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviours such as spitting and littering.

Mrs O’Neill said: “There are no signs anywhere. Nothing seems to have been done and I am very frustrated.

“I had some names on my petition, I just bumped into so many people who agreed with me.

“I don’t want to be a nuisance and keep ringing, but I shouldn’t have to. Harrow council couldn’t give a damn at the end of the day.

“They say they’re doing things to stop it but I don’t even need to leave my house to see people spitting every day.”

In addition to the fines, the council says environmental officers are patrolling the streets reminding people about the introduction of the new ban.

Councillor Graham Henson said: “Spitting and littering is a filthy habit that residents and businesses in Harrow are concerned about and we are determined to stop it.

“These types of Anti-Social Behaviour are unacceptable and the majority of law abiding residents shouldn’t have to put up with the disgusting behaviour of a few.

“It isn’t about catching people committing an offence, but about changing people’s attitudes and behaviour, so that it will lead to less fines being issued and litter being disposed of properly.

“There is always more to do and this is only the start of our campaign. Council officers are out and about educating residents, and, where we see people spitting or littering, issuing fines.”

Conservative Group leader Cllr Susan Hall added: “As our previous administration did so much of the legwork on this policy, including launching the petition to gather support for it, I’m very pleased to see the impact it’s having already.

“This policy sends out a very clear message that Harrow doesn’t want this sort of disgusting behaviour, and will hopefully lead to it declining across the borough.”

Income generated through the issuing of FPNs will be reinvested to benefit the local environment.