Councils unite to protect disabled parking

Lambeth coordinates a nationwide Blue Badge Day of Action

Over 80 local authorities took part in a Blue Badge Day of Action last month. The focus was on supporting genuine Blue Badge holders by tackling those individuals who are using other people’s badges or abusing the system. The day of action on 26 May has been championed by London’s Lambeth Council, which coordinated work from local authorities all over England and Wales to target stolen and fraudulently used Blue Badges.

The first Blue Badge Day of Action in 2022 saw Lambeth work with 19 London boroughs. With the success of last year’s Blue Badge action day, Lambeth invited all participating councils to put police and traffic enforcement officers on the streets on the same day this month. For 2023, 82 councils took part.

Lambeth has made enforcement of the Blue Badge scheme a priority. Last year the south London council removed 62 fraudulently used Blue Badges from the borough’s streets.

This year’s day of action saw Lambeth identify 26 fraudulently used badges, including four stolen badges, three lost badges and four badges which had been cancelled due to the holder being deceased.

Lambeth will now collate all the local figures on how many Blue Badges are inspected, how many are seized, and for which offences – to compare area with area and share good practice.

Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, cabinet member for sustainable Lambeth and clean air, said: “Lambeth was the first London borough to really address the issue of Blue Badge fraud, establishing a dedicated investigation team in 2008. Since then Lambeth Council has prosecuted hundreds of drivers for misusing Blue Badges, as well as other serious offences such as driving without insurance.

“We have acted because parking fraud and the abuse of parking services costs local authorities significant amounts of money to deal with every year, funding that could be better

Bath tackles Blue Badge abuse

spent on providing essential services to our residents.

“We have taken a zero tolerance approach and are proactive in tackling the problem. We have specialised in-house training for all of our on-street enforcement officers to help them identify fraudulent or misused blue badges.

“We also conduct our own regular on-street patrols with specially trained officers in plain clothes conducting spot checks on badges being used. Vehicles displaying badges that are being misused are towed away to our vehicle pound.

“This work not only protects parking income, but also the parking needed by our disabled motorists.”

A Blue Badge helps people with real health needs – includ- ing hidden disabilities such as mental health conditions – to park and get on with their daily lives. But drivers misusing Blue Badges are committing a criminal offence punishable by up to £1,000 fine. Stolen or counterfeit badge users can also be prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006, which can lead to up to 12 years’ prison and unlimited fines.

Badge holders in Bath & North East Somerset.

On 26 May the council and One West carried out checks to 146 Blue Badges and found three instances of misuse, seizing three Blue Badges.

So far this year, the council has seized 26 badges and has a 100% prosecution rate tackling instances of Blue Badge misuse.

As well as the inconvenience for disabled motorists and passengers, Blue Badge fraud means committing financial crime –falsely claiming congestion charge exemption can save £3,900 per year, falsely claiming a Blue Badge exemption for a resident’s parking permit between £50-£250 a year and misusing a Blue Badge to cheat on-street parking charges could mean more than £10,000 lost.

Fraud patrols out in Northumbria

Bath & North East Somerset Council carried out 146 Blue Badge checks as it took part in the national day of action against misuse of the badges.

The council’s civil enforcement officers worked with additional support on the day from the council’s partner One West.

There are currently more than 7,600 registered Blue

Cllr Manda Rigby, cabinet member for transport said: “We’re glad to support the campaign and continue our efforts against Blue Badge misuse. The disabled parking bays throughout B&NES are a lifeline to vulnerable residents and they’re reserved solely for the people that need them.

“Of course, our civil enforcement officers will continue to monitor and challenge potential instances of misuse and fraud if identified.”

Northumberland County Council joined scores of local authorities across the country to tackle fraudulent use of the Blue Badge scheme. During the day of action on 26 May the council’s civil enforcement officers were joined on their usual patrols by officers from the corporate fraud team.

Cllr Gordon Stewart, cabinet member for communities, said:

“The Blue Badge parking scheme is key for our residents with mobility problems or hidden disabilities, allowing them to park their vehicle close to their destination, either as a passenger or the driver. However, fraudulent use of Blue Badges is not acceptable and means those who genuinely need to use these parking spaces can find themselves displaced by people who do not.”