WIREDGOV

Blue badge fraud prosecutions have doubled in three years as councils crackdown on dishonest motorists robbing disabled people of their independence and their right to easier parking.

Professionals including lawyers and estate agents have all been hauled before the courts by councils in the past 12 months. Unscrupulous fraudsters have even been caught using a dead relative's pass or having left a disabled parent stuck at home in order to park for free to go shopping or travel to work.

More than two million disabled people use Blue Badges for free parking in pay and display bays and parking for up to three hours of yellow lines through the nationwide scheme. In London, badge holders are exempt from the congestion charge.

The Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, said the number of people caught abusing the scheme is on the rise with 686 successful council prosecutions in 2013 – up from 330 in 2010.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Plymouth Council and Hull City Council recently secured their first prosecutions against fraudsters while Manchester City Council has a 100 per cent conviction rate with more than 500 prosecutions in the past five years.

Councils are also using new powers to seize and confiscate badges suspected of being used illegally and some have set up specific enforcement teams to tackle Blue Badge fraud.

Cllr Peter Box, Chair of the LGA's Economy and Transport Board, said: "Blue badge fraud is a crime that robs disabled people of their independence and ability to get out and about in their own cars and park more easily to visit shops or family and friends. It is shocking how low some people are stooping in order to con a few hours of free parking including using a dead relative's blue badge or leaving a disabled parent trapped in their home.

"Councils are determined to do everything in their power to protect the quality of life for our disabled and vulnerable residents and will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone caught abusing the scheme. With more of these fraudsters being brought to justice than ever before by councils, this is sending a strong message that we will come down hard on drivers illegally using blue badges.

"The fight against Blue Badge fraud is being stepped up by councils and we would also urge outraged residents to keep tipping us off about people abusing the system as this remains an essential way for us to catch these criminals in the act."

CASE STUDIES

• Wandsworth Council has prosecuted an estate agent, lawyer and architect for Blue Badge fraud in the past year. Around 500 dishonest drivers have been brought before the courts by the council where they have been convicted of more than 2,000 separate offences
• Stoke-on-Trent City Council has secured its first prosecution for Blue Badge fraud after a woman used her disabled mother's parking badge so she could park for free near her place of work.
• Derbyshire County Council checked the use of 700 Blue Badges in a four-month crackdown on fraudsters between November 2013 and February 2014. The campaign led to 26 people charged with offences.
• Over the past five years, Manchester City Council has successfully carried out more than 500 prosecutions of people who have abused the Blue Badge scheme with a 100 per cent conviction rate.
• Hull City Council has launched a zero-tolerance approach to Blue Badge fraudsters. Its first prosecution of a driver misusing a disabled parking badge was successful in October last year.
• A Waltham Forest Council crackdown has seen 209 badges seized, eight arrests, 29 vehicles clamped or removed and 51 prosecutions. Cases include fake, stolen and Blue Badges registered to a deceased resident being used illegally.
• Leeds City Council previously sent warning letters to people found abusing the Blue Badge scheme. Between November 2010 and May 2013, 700 letters were sent. Since September 2013, 73 people have been found guilty of abusing the scheme following a shift to swifter prosecution.
• Plymouth City Council brought its first prosecution for Blue Badge fraud last year. A woman was fined for using her dead father's Blue Badge to park for free in a court car park before giving evidence in a trial. The badge was also seized.
• Councils across Sussex caught more than 140 people illegally using Blue Badges in 2013. Investigators found dishonest drivers tampered with information on badges, made copies of them, used badges that were expired or stolen, badges that belonged to friends or relatives and even used badges that belonged to the deceased in three cases.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The National Fraud Authority estimates 20 per cent of all blue badges in circulation are abused at an annual cost of £46 million to councils: 
2. A Blue Badge can only be used in a vehicle when it is being driven by or being 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.
3. The latest Blue Badge prosecution figures from the Department for Transport can be found here.