Praise for Blue Badge Crackdown
Minister backs council's efforts to stop abuse of scheme
Wandsworth Council's efforts to clamp down on fraudsters who steal, forge or misuse special parking permits for disabled people has been praised by new transport minister Paul Clark.
Mr Clark attended Wandsworth Town Hall on Monday to learn more about how Wandsworth has been tackling abuse of the blue badge scheme.
Whilst there he announced a new nationwide crackdown on blue badge fraud and confirmed that Wandsworth had been named as one of only two councils in London, and one of just nine across England to have been awarded 'Centre of Excellence' status, in recognition of its innovative work in tackling the problem.
Blue badges are given to disabled people so that they can park close to their destinations in places that able-bodied drivers cannot. Holders are entitled to park for as long as they like free of charge in pay and display bays and also in resident and business permit spaces. Blue badge holders can also park for up to three hours on yellow lines as long as there are no other restrictions in force.
However, this freedom to park virtually anywhere renders the scheme liable to fraud and theft.
Some disabled drivers have had their cars broken into by thieves determined to steal their badges, while many cases of forgery have also been uncovered. Some motorists have also been caught using blue badges that belonged to close relatives who have died.
Most cases however involve motorists unlawfully using badges that belong to living relatives who have a disability. While they are left languishing at home, their badge is used by fit and healthy family members to go shopping, drive to work or visit friends.
Earlier this year the council prosecuted a solicitor who left his disabled wife at home all day while he used her blue badge to park outside his office. Others prosecuted by Wandsworth for dishonestly using these badges include civil servants, bank employees, an estate agent, pub landlords and an elderly care home owner.
In response to the growling levels of abuse, the council's permit fraud team began targeting blue badge fraudsters in September 2004. Since then 292 drivers have been successfully prosecuted for a total of 866 convictions.
Drivers convicted by the courts have been fined a total of more than £209,000. In addition a further £81,000 has been paid to the public purse in parking fines.
October 24, 2008
