Fraudulent use of blue badges is not only causing a major problem for those in genuine need of parking concessions, but is also undermining the viability and effectiveness of the blue badge scheme as a whole and placing a hefty cost on local government. So says Mark Hoskin, Local Government Director at the contractor NSL.
He said: “With the Audit Commission estimating that one in five blue badges are misused, it’s essential that decisive and effective action is taken to clamp down on those who are persistently abusing the scheme.”
There are initiatives to address blue badge fraud, NSL says. It’s working with some of its local government clients. Operation Bluebird was introduced by Brighton & Hove City Council with East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and NSL to tackle the misuse of blue badges in the area. With the support of authorised blue badge holders, this has resulted in the confiscation of 91 blue badges and 45 prosecutions. Offenders were offered the option of educational training in the form of a Community Resolution Order instead of receiving a criminal record. This has already resulted in 97 Community Resolution Orders being issued.
On Merseyside and in areas such as Sefton, NSL provides additional training to its Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) which includes a disability awareness session, and a briefing on relevant legislation as well as local policies and procedures. The CEOs are then able to carry out verification checks on blue badges while carrying out their usual parking enforcement duties and have the authority to confiscate any blue badges that are being misused or abused. Although it is still early days, the programme has already identified nearly 60 cases of misuse, with 40 badges being confiscated.
Blue badge fraud is not, as some people assume, a victimless crime, Mark Hoskin added. “There are over 2.5 million blue badges in circulation in England and Wales and any misuse of badges denies people with genuine disabilities access to their rightful benefits and is estimated to cost the public purse a whopping £225m – at the very time local government budgets are under such immense pressure.
“Working with our local government partners, we’re involved in a wide range of targeted enforcement programmes to ensure that all potential offenders are aware that such irresponsible and selfish behaviour can lead to a hefty £1,000 fine and criminal prosecution – and ensuring that those who ignore the rules are brought to justice.”
NSL in a number of London boroughs – including Ealing, Waltham Forest, Bexley and Bromley is tackling misuse of blue badges. Bexley has just seen its first successful prosecution of blue badge fraud with the guilty party receiving almost £1000 in fines and the removal of the badge itself.
