Drivers have been warned they could be slapped with a £5,000 fine and risk jail time for failing to follow crucial Blue Badge rules across the UK.
It comes after the Department for Transport updated its guidance on Blue Badge parking schemes after rising concerns of fraud and misuse.
The revised guidance aims to help councils better assess and enforce schemes to ensure they remain "fair, consistent and resistant to abuse".
The Blue Badge scheme, introduced in 1971, helps people with severe mobility problems caused by both visible and non-visible disabilities to access goods and services by allowing them to park close to their destination.
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Since October 2013, enforcement officers have been able to inspect and retain Blue Badges without police presence if they have reasonable grounds to believe they are fake, cancelled, or being misused.
Offenders can face fines of up to £1,000 under the Road Traffic Regulation Act or higher penalties under the Fraud Act 2006.
In cases where an applicant makes a fraudulent application, they can be fined up to £5,000 and sentenced to up to 12 months' imprisonment under Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
The Blue Badge Digital Service, which has been available to all local authorities in England since February 2019, offers a central database of all active badges to support fraud prevention and enforcement.
The system enables local authorities to automatically check the application stage to prevent multiple and fraudulent applications.
It also allows enforcement officers to be able to quickly verify badges from anywhere in the country using desktop computers or mobile devices.
The updated document detailed: "Local authorities are strongly encouraged to implement a robust identity management system to help reduce fraud and abuse of the scheme. In-person collection of the Blue Badge offers considerable anti-fraud benefits over the more common practice of posting a badge out to successful applicants.
"Abuse can occur at all points in the system, whether at the point of the initial application, through requests for replacements, to on-street usage. For this reason, it is vital that both issuing teams and parking enforcement teams are alert to criminal or fraudulent behaviour and attempt to prevent fraud and abuse before it happens."
The demand for Blue Badges has increased significantly, with data suggesting it has trebled in the last 20 years, with the DfT estimating there could be 650,000 additional Badge holders over the next 10 years.
Last year, the Department revealed that 1,600 Blue Badges were reported stolen, with many later found to be still in use by relatives of the badge owner for fraudulent purposes. Blue Badges must be renewed every three years and cost up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, but it is free in Wales.
Other changes announced by the DfT will take place from April 1, with applicants receiving qualifying Personal Independence Payment awards no longer needing to upload their award letters when applying online for a Blue Badge.
Instead, local authorities will use the DWP Searchlight system to validate PIP awards directly. This system is already provided to all councils and allows them to easily check up-to-date benefit information.
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Seema Chandwani, from Haringey Council, said: "Blue Badge holders deserve their independence just like anyone else.
"Misusing or stealing badges strips this away and prevents those in genuine need from accessing essential on-street parking."
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It comes after the Department for Transport updated its guidance on Blue Badge parking schemes after rising concerns of fraud and misuse.
The revised guidance aims to help councils better assess and enforce schemes to ensure they remain "fair, consistent and resistant to abuse".
The Blue Badge scheme, introduced in 1971, helps people with severe mobility problems caused by both visible and non-visible disabilities to access goods and services by allowing them to park close to their destination.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
Since October 2013, enforcement officers have been able to inspect and retain Blue Badges without police presence if they have reasonable grounds to believe they are fake, cancelled, or being misused.
Offenders can face fines of up to £1,000 under the Road Traffic Regulation Act or higher penalties under the Fraud Act 2006.
In cases where an applicant makes a fraudulent application, they can be fined up to £5,000 and sentenced to up to 12 months' imprisonment under Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
The Blue Badge Digital Service, which has been available to all local authorities in England since February 2019, offers a central database of all active badges to support fraud prevention and enforcement.
The system enables local authorities to automatically check the application stage to prevent multiple and fraudulent applications.
It also allows enforcement officers to be able to quickly verify badges from anywhere in the country using desktop computers or mobile devices.
The updated document detailed: "Local authorities are strongly encouraged to implement a robust identity management system to help reduce fraud and abuse of the scheme. In-person collection of the Blue Badge offers considerable anti-fraud benefits over the more common practice of posting a badge out to successful applicants.
"Abuse can occur at all points in the system, whether at the point of the initial application, through requests for replacements, to on-street usage. For this reason, it is vital that both issuing teams and parking enforcement teams are alert to criminal or fraudulent behaviour and attempt to prevent fraud and abuse before it happens."
The demand for Blue Badges has increased significantly, with data suggesting it has trebled in the last 20 years, with the DfT estimating there could be 650,000 additional Badge holders over the next 10 years.
Last year, the Department revealed that 1,600 Blue Badges were reported stolen, with many later found to be still in use by relatives of the badge owner for fraudulent purposes. Blue Badges must be renewed every three years and cost up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, but it is free in Wales.
Other changes announced by the DfT will take place from April 1, with applicants receiving qualifying Personal Independence Payment awards no longer needing to upload their award letters when applying online for a Blue Badge.
Instead, local authorities will use the DWP Searchlight system to validate PIP awards directly. This system is already provided to all councils and allows them to easily check up-to-date benefit information.
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Seema Chandwani, from Haringey Council, said: "Blue Badge holders deserve their independence just like anyone else.
"Misusing or stealing badges strips this away and prevents those in genuine need from accessing essential on-street parking."
Find Out More...