William Eichler 22 August 2016

Blue badge thefts treble in three years

The number of blue badge thefts has risen by a fifth in the past 12 months and has trebled in three years, councils warn.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed thefts of blue badges went up from 1,756 in 2014 to 2,056 in 2015.

This increase marks a rise in thefts for the third year running with 656 recorded in 2013.

Over two million disabled people use blue badges for free parking in pay and display bays and for up to three hours on yellow lines. In London, badge holders are exempt from the congestion charge saving them around £2,500 a year.

The LGA said councils continue to prosecute fraudsters who abuse the blue badge system. The number of people caught abusing the scheme has almost trebled in five years with 985 successful council prosecutions in 2015 – up from 330 in 2010.

‘The theft of Blue Badges is clearly a crime on the rise and it is alarming that incidents have trebled in just three years,’ said LGA Transport spokesman Cllr Martin Tett.

‘Illegally using a Blue Badge is not a victimless crime. For disabled people, blue badges are a vital lifeline that helps them get out and about to visit shops or family and friends. Callous thieves and unscrupulous fraudsters using them illegally are robbing disabled people of this independence.

‘Despite limited resources, councils continue to work hard to crackdown on this growing crime. More blue badge fraudsters than ever are being brought to justice by councils who will come down hard on drivers illegally using them.’

Ending the ‘care cliff’ image

Ending the ‘care cliff’

Katharine Sacks-Jones, CEO of Become, explains what local authorities can do to prevent young people leaving care from experiencing the ‘care cliff'.
The new Centre for Young Lives image

The new Centre for Young Lives

Anne Longfield CBE, the chair of the Commission on Young Lives, discusses the launch of the Centre for Young Lives this month.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Payroll Manager

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£46,014 to £55,758 per annum
About the role You will have a set of on-going responsibilities which will vary depending on the needs of the team. The responsibilities include (but not limited to) to
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Family Worker Link Role - 12 month FTC

Essex County Council
£30931 - £35362 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Defined Benefits Pension
Family Worker Link RoleFixed Term, Full Time£30,931 to £35,362 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Strategic Risk and Insurance Manager

Wakefield Council
£56,685.00, Grade 14
Wakefield is situated in West Yorkshire with excellent rail and motorway links to the north and south, including London. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Adults Social Worker - Organisational Safeguarding

Essex County Council
£36101 - £48622 per annum + Flexible Working, Hybrid
Why Join Us? With us, you can achieve more - for yourself as well as the vulnerable adults you work to support. We're always looking for new ways t England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Policy Officer

Westminster City Council
£53,109 - £72,669 per annum
Innovation and Change in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. Westminster City Hall 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP
Recuriter: Westminster City Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.