A major London authority has begun cracking down on Blue Badge fraud across the borough, with drivers caught misusing the scheme at risk of hefty fines and criminal records.
Croydon Council has issued penalties to 70 drivers who have been misusing disability parking permits, with the schemes taken off the streets in just six months.
The operation, launched earlier this year, is part of Executive Mayor Jason Perry’s pledge to get tough on anti-social behaviour and make sure disabled residents can actually access the parking spaces meant for them.
Council enforcement teams have been carrying out regular spot checks across the borough, looking for stolen, forged or illegally used badges.
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Their work has led to 32 vehicles being seized so far, along with penalty charge notices and a series of confiscations. The council said that 20 people now face prosecution, with their first court hearings due in December.
The misuse comes in many forms, with some drivers using badges that belonged to people who have died. Others display badges that have been cancelled, stolen, or are completely fake.
All of these are criminal offences and take parking spaces away from people who genuinely need them—those who rely on closer parking to get to work, attend medical appointments or simply stay independent.
Among the worst cases uncovered was a car that had racked up over 60 parking fines, with a total of more than £11,000 owed. The council said it has not only taken the vehicle off the road but is also pressing ahead with legal action against the registered keeper.
Drivers can be fined heavily for Blue Badge misuse
| GETTYIn another incident, officers found a car displaying a stolen Blue Badge, only to discover that the vehicle itself had also been reported stolen. The council said that cases like this show why tougher enforcement is essential and long overdue.
Mayor Jason Perry warned that residents are demanding firm action, and the council is responding. "I am tackling antisocial behaviour across Croydon, and I want to reassure our residents that we are supporting them," he said.
"To those who misuse Blue Badges or think the rules do not apply to them, there is zero tolerance. We are coming after you."
The council stressed that abuse of the Blue Badge system causes real harm. When someone wrongly takes a disabled parking bay, it can stop someone with mobility difficulties from being able to shop, visit family, get to vital appointments, or even leave their home with confidence.
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More than 2.8 million drivers across the UK possess a Blue Badge | GETTY "We have taken illegal badges and cars off the street, freeing up much-needed parking spaces for those who need them," the Mayor added.
He said early public feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and the council now plans to expand the enforcement programme further.
This expansion is expected to include more regular street checks, more officers dedicated to fraud detection, and a wider focus on other vehicle-related offences.
In the UK, a Blue Badge can only be used when the rightful holder is in the vehicle, or when a driver is picking up or dropping off the disabled person.
Drivers with Blue Badges can benefit from free parking as well as other benefits
| GETTYThe council has also urged the public not to jump to conclusions about Blue Badge misuse, as not all disabilities are visible.
Instead, anyone who suspects a badge is being used illegally is asked to report it through the council's Love Clean Streets app or website. Officers will then investigate the report as part of their ongoing enforcement work.
Croydon Council detailed how this operation marks one of the strongest pushes it has ever made to protect disabled parking access and stop those who try to cheat the system.
The first prosecution hearings next month are expected to set the tone for the wider crackdown on Blue Badge fraud across Croydon.
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