Crackdown on disabled badge misuse

23 March 2010

Disabled badges could be confiscated on the spot to tackle widespread misuse.

The Department for Transport is to give councils greater powers to deal with blue-badge abuse.

Government proposals for reforms are in the pipeline following the biggest review of disabled parking in 30 years.

The review is also considering extending the blue-badge scheme to more children under three and seriously injured Armed Forces personnel and veterans.

Around 2.5 million disabled people are currently able to take advantage of the scheme which offers priority parking for badge holders, but misuse of badges by able-bodied friends and relatives or forgeries is often reported.

"From visiting friends and family, to attending a doctor's appointment or getting to and from work, the Blue Badge Scheme helps millions of disabled people throughout England retain their independence," said Transport Minister, Sadiq Khan.

"However, our 2008 strategy paper highlighted the extent to which some people are abusing the Scheme which means that it does not benefit as many people as it should - this can't be allowed to happen.

"This consultation gives greater detail on how we can tackle these problems and aims to ensure that the right people get a badge in the first place."

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