Camden Blue Badge Fraudsters Fined

Sadly for disabled people Blue Badge fraud is still proving commonplace in London, with the Audit Commission estimating that each Blue Badge used fraudulently costs taxpayers as much as £5,000 a year.

London Councils and Transport for London say lost, stolen and fake badges are increasingly being used by ineligible motorists.

In the latest crackdown initiative, led by Camden Council and the Vehicle Crime Network Group, over 2,000 blue badge disability passes were checked – with 200 bogus badges being seized.

Disabled Permits Used Illegally

Ultimately six fit and healthy motorists were prosecuted for illegally using disabled parking permits and fined a total of £3,522 for abusing the blue badge system.  A further 57 cases have been referred to the Council’s legal department for further action.

Councillor Chris Knight, Executive Member for Environment at Camden Council, said: “People who knowingly abuse the Blue Badge permit are not only committing fraud but are literally snatching spaces away from the disabled and infirm.”

He continued: “It’s disappointing that so many do not see how this can impact on genuine holders of the permit.  I’m pleased that through our proactive operations we are bringing so many of these cases to court.  These cases send a clear message. If you take a chance and abuse the system we will catch you and we’ll use the full weight of the law.”