More than 120 blue badge fraud probes launched

Salford City Council's blue badge crackdown began in November 2024

More than 120 investigations into the illegal use of blue badges have been launched in Salford during the last 12 months.

Salford City Council said it started taking enforcement action in November 2024 as part of efforts to make it easier for genuine users to find accessible parking.

The local authority said it received 62 blue badges during a two-week amnesty period before the crackdown officially began.

Two days later, a man was found to be using his late mother's blue badge. When he subsequently appeared before Manchester Magistrates' Court he was fined £116 and ordered to pay costs of £350 and a £46 victim surcharge.

Trained officers patrol Salford's streets and car parks to identify and seize blue badges suspected of being misused.

The council has also relied upon spot checks, data-sharing of lost, stolen and revoked badges, and public reporting.

The local authority said its corporate fraud department was investigating 32 cases, of which three were at prosecution stage.

A large proportion of these cases involve counterfeit and cloned badges, it said.

'Fraudulent users'

"A year ago we told our legitimate blue badge users that we would take action against those misusing the system and we are delivering on that commitment," said Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for neighbourhoods, environment and community safety.

"This is all about making Salford a better and fairer place for all. When yellow bays are taken up by fraudulent users it impacts on those who genuinely need accessible parking.

"This is a national problem but we are determined to do all we can to eradicate it in this city.

"Blue badge users have told us they are grateful for what we are doing to make it easier for them to park and go about their everyday business."

More than 400,000 people in the north-west of England have a blue badge.

It is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act to misuse them.