People who spit in public face prosecution after landmark legal ruling The two men prosecuted were both given fixed penalty notices in February after the council agreed anyone caught spitting in the street should be given an on-the-spot fine. However, they refused to pay and challenged the council's policy. A council spokesman said around 25 of the penalty notices had been handed out since the policy's introduction in February. Ministers have also backed moves to tackle spitting Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has given his support to Enfield Council, who are waiting for final approval for a by-law banning spitting, saying: "Spitting on Britain's streets is not socially acceptable."