Drivers have been fined thousands of pounds by a local authority and given criminal records for breaking a major driving offence in London.
Haringey Council revealed that it issued a total of £2,040 in penalties to offenders who were found guilty of abusing Blue Badge privileges.
The offenders had reported their Blue Badges as being lost or stolen by the original holders and received replacements, all while still benefiting from parking privileges.
In the first fraudulent case, the council launched an investigation after three incidents were reported involving the same vehicle, which displayed two different Blue Badges.
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Offenders were fined a total of more than £2,000 for breaking Blue Badge rules
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The council explained that the investigation revealed that the vehicle’s registered keeper lives in Nelson, Lancashire, and was responsible for the offence.
Despite multiple attempts by the council’s investigations team to contact the owner and establish who was using the vehicle during the incidents, they failed to respond. As a result, the driver was fined £800 by the council with a collection order issued by the court.
Councillor Seema Chandwani said: “Blue Badge holders deserve their independence just like anyone else. Misusing or stealing badges strips this away and prevents those in genuine need from accessing essential on-street parking.
“That’s why we worked closely with disabled residents to get tougher on Blue Badge misuse and remain committed to taking enforcement action against those who break the law. These cases highlight our dedication to combating Blue Badge fraud and ensuring fair use of public resources.”
“Fraudulent misuse undermines the system meant to support those in need and negatively impacts the community.
“Our residents play a crucial role in implementing our policies, especially those that directly affect them. By working together, we will continue to ensure that residents are at the heart of all decision-making.”
In another case, a driver was fined £1,240 after their vehicle was found displaying two different Blue Badges in restricted areas across Haringey. Both badges had been reported lost or stolen by the original holders.
The owner of the car initially claimed that someone else had been driving the vehicle during the incidents, but evidence compiled by the Haringey investigations team revealed the truth.
The offender was found to have knowingly used the Blue Badges on three occasions to avoid parking fees. As a result,they pleaded guilty to three counts under section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
According to recent data from the Department for Transport, 1,600 Blue Badges were reported stolen last year.
Stolen badges can be used to illegally access free parking across the country, with campaign group Blue Badge Fraud finding that as many as one in five badges in urban areas could be fraudulent.
Under UK law, Blue Badges must be renewed every three years and can be used to help people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination.
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The council stated: “The council will continue to investigate all types of fraud including the misuse of Blue Badges, with offenders facing prosecution and the full force of the law.
“All successful prosecutions will result in perpetrators receiving criminal records, underscoring the seriousness of such offences.”
