Huge abuse of parking bays for the disabled

Jul 27 2010 By David Baker

badge

FRAUD officers discovered as many as 50 per cent of motorists illegally using parking passes meant for the disabled last week - in a six hour crackdown on blue-badge misuse.

The anti-fraud team at Harrow Council, supported by police officers and parking enforcement staff, set up camp at Greenhill Way from 12 noon and 6pm on Wednesday last week, where they found 16 of all motorists monitored were using the badges illegally.

Blue Badges are issued to disabled residents allowing them to park for free on single and double yellow lines, in disabled bays and park and display bays.

But in the six hour crackdown 16 of the 32 drivers checked by officers were found to be abusing the system.

Officers spoke with motorists in legitimate possession of the badges who gave the thumbs up to the council crackdown, hoping that it would ensure the spaces were freed up for those who really need them.

A sentiment shared by Avani Modasia, Chief Executive of Age Concern Harrow, who said: “We absolutely welcome this type of campaign by the council because it helps to free up spaces for people who really, genuinely need them.

“I would say to people who are abusing the badge or using it fraudulently to think about the people they are taking these parking spaces away from.”

All of the motorists found to be parked illegally had their badges confiscated and were issued with penalty charge notices.

They will all now be interviewed at a later date and may face criminal proceeding which could result in fines up to £1,000 in court.

It was the second operation of its kind to have carried out by the council in the past month and Councillor Graham Henson, responsible for performance, customer services and corporate services on Harrow Council, added they would continue to work to cut out the fraud.

He said: “We want people to understand that if they use the badges illegally they are depriving someone who really needs the parking space.

“Older residents and people with mobility problems rely on blue badges to keep their independence.

“It is important that as a council we protect their right to these spaces and in turn their access to Harrow’s facilities.

“We will keep the pressure up on offenders so the message to them is that if we haven't caught you yet, then it’s just a matter of time.”