Councils double number of Blue Badge prosecutions in just four years

The number of people successfully prosecuted in relation to abuse of the Blue Badge scheme has more than doubled in the last four years, the Local Government Association has confirmed.

The LGA said abuse of the scheme typically involved using stolen or lost badges and using relatives’ badges.

There were 1,215 successful council prosecutions in 2018 – up from 535 in 2014.

The LGA also said that theft of Blue Badges in England had risen by 45% in the past 12 months and was up six-fold since 2013.

Cllr Martin Tett, LGA Transport spokesman, said: “Illegally using a Blue Badge is not a victimless crime. For disabled people, Blue Badges are a vital lifeline that helps them get out and about to visit shops or family and friends. Callous thieves and unscrupulous fraudsters using them illegally are robbing disabled people of this independence.

"Blue Badge theft is clearly a soaring crime and it is alarming that incidents have risen by more than 45% in the past year alone.”

Cllr Tett added: "Despite limited resources, councils continue to work hard to crackdown on this growing crime. More Blue Badge fraudsters than ever are being brought to justice by councils who will come down hard on drivers illegally using them.

"It is important to catch these criminals in the act. To help councils win the fight against Blue Badge fraud, residents must keep tipping us off about people they suspect are illegally using a badge, bearing in mind people’s need for a badge might not be obvious.”

A Blue Badge can only be used in a vehicle when it is being driven or used to transport the Blue Badge holder. Misuse of a Blue Badge is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1984. The maximum fine on conviction is £1,000.