A WOMAN has made it her mission to rid the community of spitting after warning the habit poses a serious health risk.

New powers are now being considered by Harrow Council that would allow a £100 fine to be issued on the spot for environmental crimes like urinating in public places and spitting in the street.

Signs would also be put into place to discourage people from spitting.

Catherine O’Neill said she was disgusted to see people spitting in public with no realisation of the impact the habit had on the health of the community.

She said: “Enforcers are on the street but it isn’t enough.

“This issue needs to be highlighted a lot more.”

 “Spitting is so much more dangerous than dropping cigarettes onto the ground. You see people spit out the front of Waitrose then people walk those germs into the store.”

She said enforcers in the community were overwhelmed with the problem and needed more support.

The Harrow resident said her life had changed forever when she slipped on spit and fell in 2012, dislocating her shoulder and tearing the tendons in her back.

She said the spitting had meant tuberculosis was seeing a comeback in the area.

A London Assembly report released late last year found Harrow had more than 150 incidents of tuberculosis per 100,000 – a rate even worse than that experienced in Iraq and Rwanda.

The council has recently opened up community consultation over the proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) with submissions being accepted from May 16 to July 17.

Environment, crime and community safety councillor Graham Henson said: “We are clear on our views on spitting - it is a disgusting and filthy habit and also a form of anti-social behaviour.

“Since we introduced a ban on spitting last year, 371 people have been fined £75 on the spot. This isn’t all, and we want to do more. Our priority is to keep the borough cleaner, safer and a more pleasant place to live and work. 

"We have recently launched a consultation to introduce a boroughwide Public Spaces Protection Order which will make spitting a specific offence and subject to a £100 fixed penalty notice.

"Residents are encouraged to take part in the consultation and support our plans to take tougher action on environmental crime.”

To make a submission go to: http://www.harrow.gov.uk/info/100006/environment/1784/environmental_crimes_consultation