Blue Badge fraud enforcement continues

Misuse of a disabled parking badge – commonly known as Blue Badges – causes issues for those genuinely in need of having access to parking spaces.

People misusing a Blue Badge deliberately take up spaces that should be available to more vulnerable residents and they also avoid paying parking charges.

Between 14 December 2021 and 21 December 2022, the Council has:

• seized 83 disabled badges due to being misused.  
• served 21 warning notices
• passed on 56 cases to legal team, some of which could lead to prosecution
• had 29 cases heard at court [18 guilty pleas and eight people found guilty in absence]
• seen 49 misuse cases attributed to Havering residents

The BBFI – special investigators for the public sector  - says Blue Badge fraud and misuse can  cost councils an estimated £200,000 a year.

The most common types of fraud include: 

• forged badges such as scans or photocopies 
• selling on lost or stolen badges
• using the badge when the disabled owner is not present 
• using the badge after the badge holder has died 

The Council’s civil enforcement officers work alongside BBFI and local police to step up enforcement action.

Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, said: 

“The deliberate misuse of a Blue Badge prohibits residents in genuine need and makes life very difficult for them and their families, who have valid badges.

“Sadly, right now, there are people who are parking in a disabled parking bay in our borough when they don’t have the right to and are using a Blue Badge that doesn’t belong to them.

“We’re working alongside police and other organisations in the community to continue to crack down on this type of fraud.

“We also encourage residents to keep reporting Blue Badge misuse and to help us to support those who genuinely need them.