A high proportion of fines issued for spitting in Waltham Forest have not been paid, it has emerged. 

Waltham Forest council was the first London borough to introduce on-the-spot fines for people caught spitting or urinating in public, in February 2013. 

A team of twenty civil enforcement officers and twenty PCSOs have the power to issue £50 fixed penalty notices using an existing litter law under the Environmental Protection Act.

People caught spitting are fined in the same way as those caight fly-tipping, littering, of failing to clear up after their dog. 

If unpaid within 14 days, fines increased to £80 and the council can prosecute if the fine remains unpaid. 

 In all, 84 fines have been issued since the spitting ban was introduced, with 38 paid, generating a minimum income of £1,900 - based on £50 fines. 

Of the remaining 46 fines, 35 are unpaid and three fines were withdrawn on appeal. 

The council has taken legal action against eight people. 

Revenue yet to be retrieved totals at least £2,000. 

Deputy leader and cabinet member for environment councillor Clyde Loakes said: "We’re really pleased that our tough stance on spitting is having such a meaningful impact on the borough and the look and feel of our town centres.

"The 84 fines we have handed out sends a clear and explicit message that such behaviour is unwelcome and will not be tolerated in Waltham Forest.

"The fact that almost half of those fines have been paid in full is a very good ratio for this sort of offence and shows a proportionate response to the problem.

"Of those outstanding, we have a number that still have time to pay, others that have appealed against the notice and some where we have not been able to track down the individuals."

For more on this story, see next week's Guardian - out Thursday.