A Blue Badge crackdown has resulted in the cancellation of 22,000 parking permits following the discovery of widespread fraudulent activity involving permits belonging to deceased holders.
The investigation uncovered an illicit market where disability parking permits were being sold for substantial sums after their rightful owners had passed away.
Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons revealed that numerous Blue Badges remained in circulation on UK roads despite the death of their holders, with some relatives attempting to manipulate the system for financial gain.
The permits, designed to assist disabled individuals with parking access, were found to be traded illegally in what officials described as a thriving black-market operation.
The mass cancellations occurred between April 2024 and May 2025 as part of a broader Government initiative to combat benefit fraud across multiple sectors.
Mr Simons expressed his astonishment at discovering the existence of an underground marketplace for disability permits, which he described as symbols of "old-fashioned courtesy and consideration" that should unite the nation in supporting those with disabilities.
"I was shocked when I learned there is an illegal black market of Blue Badges, which makes a mockery of that system," the Cabinet Office Minister told The Sun.
According to Cabinet Office figures, individual permits command prices reaching £800 on the black market, reflecting the substantial value derived from avoiding parking charges and congestion fees.
Reports found a concerning trend of drivers using the deceased Blue Badges on UK roads
| GETTYThe minister emphasised that the badges represent fundamental British values of respect and compassion, making their exploitation particularly troubling for a system designed to assist vulnerable members of society.
The National Fraud Initiative's data-matching efforts exposed various schemes, including one instance in Camden where family members of a deceased permit holder submitted applications for replacement badges.
Relatives claimed the original badge had been "damaged" and subsequently "lost", but council officials rejected both requests and terminated the permit following routine verification procedures.
The Cabinet Office acknowledged that comprehensive data regarding active misuse of the cancelled badges remains with individual local authorities rather than being held centrally.
The Cabinet Office has cancelled 22,000 Blue Badges
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Government officials noted that protective measures differ across councils, though systematic data-matching procedures are proving effective in identifying and preventing fraudulent activity.
The investigation revealed that many permits continued circulating long after holders' deaths, with some families deliberately exploiting gaps in the system.
The badge cancellations represent a component of Britain's most extensive anti-fraud campaign, which has recovered £480million over the past 12 months, surpassing the previous year's total by £100million.
Covid-related fraud constituted a significant portion of the recovered funds, with £186million reclaimed from fraudulent schemes, including false Bounce Back Loan applications.
Drivers can obtain fake Blue Badges for roughly £800 on the black market
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The broader fraud prevention initiative has uncovered numerous irregularities beyond Blue Badge misuse, including pension payments continuing after beneficiaries' deaths, ineligible names on social housing registers, and improper claims for council tax discounts.
Mr Simons added: "Half a billion pounds back in the system. That's nurses on hospital wards, teachers in classrooms and police officers on the beat."
He emphasised that while most citizens contribute their fair share, a minority exploit the system at significant cost to taxpayers. "Taxpayers expect their money to be spent funding these services, not lining the pockets of fraudsters," the minister declared.
The Government has pledged to continue employing advanced technology to detect system abuse and prosecute those responsible.
Simons affirmed the administration's commitment, stating: "We will always be tough on fraud."