Blue badge fines total £380,000 over five years

Hampshire County Council said a rise in fines reflected a major expansion of its responsibilities

A council has issued 12,010 fines for blue badge parking misuse over the past five years.

Hampshire County Council handed out penalties totaling £380,522, according to figures released through a Freedom of Information request.

The data showed a steady rise in the number of fines issued, from 749 fines worth £21,175 in 2020, to 5,418 fines worth £170,044 last year.

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said the increase reflected a major expansion of its parking enforcement responsibilities.

"This broader coverage has naturally led to a higher number of infringements being identified and fined."

In 2021, the council almost doubled the previous year's total, with 1,369 fines amounting to £45,115, and by 2023, the number had risen to 3,060 fines, valued at £93,465.

Between 2020 and 2023, the county council gradually took over responsibility for on-street parking enforcement across the whole county.

Previously, enforcement was carried out by district and borough councils.

However, by Autumn 2023, the county council covered all 11 districts, compared to just four in 2020.

To tackle blue badge misuse, the council said its enforcement teams carried out regular patrols across the county.