Fraud against Blue Badges tackled with a National Action Day

To support disabled people who use Blue Badges, Veritau and City of York Council took part in a national day of action, alongside 81 other councils.

Council parking officers and fraud investigators from Veritau – the organisation that investigates fraud on behalf of the council – worked together to check the use of Blue Badges across the city to help ensure that the city’s designated parking spaces were being used correctly.

On the day of action on 2 June, 84 badges were checked across the city. Two Penalty Charge Notices were issued and a badge was confiscated because the Blue Badges were being used by people who weren’t badge holders or who weren’t supporting the badge holder.

The Blue Badge scheme is designed to help disabled people park closer to their destination. Their badge must be visible in the front windscreen of their car when parked in a designated space or on double yellow lines where appropriate. A Blue Badge must only be used when the owner is present, or the driver is parking specifically to pick them up or drop them off.

Although almost all Blue Badges are used correctly, there is a small minority who fraudulently use other people’s badges, either to save money by parking in disabled bays or who just want to park closer to their destination. It’s an offence to misuse a Blue Badge, with offenders facing possible prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

Pauline Stuchfield, Director of Customer and Communities at City of York Council, said: “Over 7,200 Blue Badges are held in York and we know that fraudulent use of them is a concern for the disabled community. However, as not all disabilities are visible and to avoid causing any unnecessary stress for a genuine Blue Badge owner, please report any suspected misuse of a Blue Badge to Veritau rather than challenge an individual directly.”

Neil Ferris, Director of Place at City of York Council, said: “We take concerns about all forms of fraud very seriously. The misuse of Blue Badges has the added consequence of depriving disabled people of facilities specifically provided to meet their needs. The day of action aims to support disabled people’s continued access to services, employment and activities.”

Last month, Magistrates fined a visitor to the city who misused a Blue Badge and so wrongly took a designated parking space.

York Magistrates ordered Thomas Prior, 68, of Waterside Road, Barton-upon-Humber, to pay a fine for misusing a deceased family member’s Blue Badge in August last year. An investigation into the misuse was conducted by Veritau following a report from a civil enforcement officer. The officer had noted that the expiry date on a displayed Blue Badge had been altered to give the impression that it was still valid.

On 12 May 2023, Mr Prior submitted a postal guilty plea to the Court for the wrongful misuse of the Blue Badge. He was ordered to pay £1,652.67 which included a fine of £600, costs of £812.67 and a court surcharge of £240.

Anyone with information about Blue Badge fraud or fraudulent activity against the council is encouraged to call Veritau’s hotline on 0800 9179 247, or email fraud@york.gov.uk. The call can be anonymous, and all concerns are treated seriously.

*Please note the case at York Magistrates Court took place on 12 May 2023.