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Crime Solicitors

Council cracks down on Blue Badge Fraud (14 March 2016)

Date: 14/03/2016
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Council cracks down on Blue Badge Fraud

Newham Council in east London has launched a campaign to tackle Blue Badge fraud.

The first operation to tackle Blue Badge abuse in early March involved a team of the council’s law enforcement officers and parking wardens, who patrolled the streets of East Ham checking that motorists were displaying a valid Blue Badge and were with the person it was assigned to.

Newham Council has access to the Blue Badge database and the council says will confiscate badges and take drivers to court if they use Blue Badges that have been cancelled, or because they have been “lost” – or if motorists are using a Blue Badge without the disabled person it has been allocated to being present.

The Enforcement Partnership Team – police officers paid for by the council –
also took part in the operation and will take on any cases of stolen Blue Badges being used in the borough.

During Operation Astute, the council checked 177 Blue Badges being used in East Ham.

The council officers discovered one Blue Badge being used after its owner having died – and another badge in use despite the owner reporting they had never received it.

Both drivers were issued with Penalty Charge Notices for parking in a disabled bay without a valid Blue Badge.

A third driver was also found to be using a valid blue badge without the person it was assigned to being present.

All three drivers will appear in court to face charges under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The maximum fine for Blue Badge misuse is £1,000.

Newham Council’s Cabinet Member for crime and anti-social behaviour, Councillor Unmesh Desai, said:

“Blue Badges are provided to help disabled people get out and about with ease.

“Those who abuse the system – saying they have lost a badge when they haven’t, or use a badge without its owner being present – are blocking residents who have a genuine need to park conveniently close to shops, their homes or places of work.

“It is disgraceful that some people continue to use a Blue Badge when their relative has passed away, denying others a much-needed parking place.

“Over the next few months, the council will be combing the streets of the borough road by road, making sure that Blue Badges are being used appropriately.

“I urge the courts to use the full weight of the law and impose the maximum penalty possible on those who take advantage of the system.”

Since June 2014, Newham Council has prosecuted 17 people for Blue Badge misuse, which has resulted in a total of £2,649 in fines being issued to drivers.
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