Blue Badge fraud: 'More fakes than ever before'

Blue Badges are being faked, doctored, stolen and sold online, fraud investigators are warning.

They are also finding people using badges belonging to family members without them present, and even badges of those who have died - which is illegal.

Paul Slowey, from the Blue Badge Fraud Investigation agency, says he is confiscating "more fake badges than ever before", and that the Blue Badge scheme is being "thoroughly abused" by those wanting to get free parking that they are not entitled to.

The government says it has strengthened powers by enabling plain clothes officers to inspect Blue Badges and confiscate those being used misused.