Lambeth-led National Blue Badge Day of Action is the winner of 2023’s Parking Partnerships Award at the British Parking Awards – an independent competition honouring public service and innovation. They recognise the year’s best car park management, parking enforcement, design and teamwork.
London-wide to Nationwide
Drivers misusing Blue Badges are committing crimes punishable by up to £1000 fine
After co-ordinating 2022’s London-wide Blue Badge Day of Action partnership with 19 of London’s 32 boroughs targeting stolen and fraudulently used Blue Badges, Lambeth invited local authorities all over England and Wales to be partners in 2023’s first-ever National Blue Badge Day.
A Blue Badge helps people with real health needs – including hidden disabilities such as mental health conditions – to park and get on with their daily lives. But drivers misusing Blue Badges are committing crimes punishable by up to £1000 fine. Stolen or counterfeit Blue Badge users can also be prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006, facing up to 12 years’ prison and unlimited fines.
Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: “We’re delighted this Lambeth-led partnership is recognised as the year’s best example of partnership. Lambeth has led from the front and provided a model on how to protect the Blue Badge scheme. In 2006, we established a dedicated Investigations Team, tackling all aspects of parking fraud from Blue Badge Fraud to false PCN representations.
“The Day of Action was a success both in terms of enforcement, and as a catalyst for future action. Across the country, 340 officers inspected more than 5,000 Blue Badges, found 227 criminal offences and seized 92 fraudulent badges – including 39 stolen ones. An annual National Day of Action is now planned.”
National co-ordination
As well as winning the Award, Lambeth earned praise from Blue Badge partners:
- “Disabled Motoring UK commend Lambeth Council for disseminating their expertise and best practice; they have positively influenced the efforts of other councils in addressing Blue Badge misuse and fraud” – Graham Footer, Chief Executive of Disabled Motoring UK
- “Our Welsh Government Blue Badge colleagues are very interested in launching something similar. I have passed on your details” – Diana Guerra, Head of Blue Badge Policy, Department for Transport
More information
- See more about the British Parking Awards.
- See the other entries in the 2023 Partnership Parking Awards
