The misuse of Blue Badges costs the authorities an estimated £218,000
Fraudulent use of the disabled parking badges means residents avoid paying parking charges, as well as taking up spaces from those genuinely in need.
Investigators BBFI and Met police will be working alongside the Council to step up enforcement action, ensuring the vulnerable have access to parking spaces.
Their misuse costs the authorities an estimated £218,000 per year.
Common types of fraud include forged badges such as scans or photocopies and using it with the correct owner not present.
Other types include selling on lost or stolen badges, using the badge after the badge holder has died and faking or exaggerating a disability to get a blue badge.
Councillor Osman Dervish, Havering’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “The deliberate misuse of a Blue Badge deprives 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 crack down on this type of fraud.
“We also encourage residents that reporting a misuse of a Blue Badge can only help to make it fairer for those in our community who genuinely need it to have a better quality of life.”
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Tags: Havering, Havering Council
