logo
Supermarkets to be named and shamed for abuse of parking rules at stores this month

Supermarkets to be named and shamed for abuse of parking rules at stores this month

Daily Mail​15-07-2025
Disabled people across Britain have the opportunity to name and shame supermarkets where they suffer a specific type of abuse.
The issue in question has become prevalent in recent years, with cases of fraud, misuse and threatening behaviour increasing by over 1,000 per cent since 2016.
Now a charity is inviting disabled drivers and those they travel with to provide feedback on their experience of flagrant rule breaking when visiting Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl stores between now and the middle of August.
Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) has launched a survey for people to review misuse of disabled parking bays at the six major supermarkets, which are designated for Blue Badge holders only.
Those with permits have been reporting nationwide problems when trying to access these spaces, with drivers without Blue Badges selfishly using bays because they are typically those closest to the store - and then become aggressive when approached by people needing them most.
Statistics show than the Blue Badge scheme itself is being 'shockingly' exploited, with permit thefts on the rise and reported instances of abuse growing from hundreds per year to over 3,500 cases by 2023.
DMUK says the findings from its study will be shared with supermarket bosses and made public 'to raise awareness and help drive positive policy change'.
The charity says supermarkets and operators of their private car parks often lack a commitment to prioritising improvements to accessibility barriers suffered by disabled drivers.
This is despite the fact they are using their wide-ranging resources to chase 14.4million drivers each year for breaking car park rules regarding the duration they stay or how late they return to their vehicles.
Exclusive analysis by This is Money earlier this month found that 40,000 tickets per day worth up to £100 are being issued by these private parking companies - but DMUK says they are fundamentally failing disabled motorists by not enforcing Blue Badge bays at these locations.
This week, it launched its 'Baywatch' campaign to highlight the ongoing abuse of disabled parking bays and Blue Badge misuse at supermarkets, calling for greater operator accountability.
With little evidence of enforcement of disabled bays, visitors entitled to use them are sometimes 'feeling pressured to put their personal safety at risk by challenging disabled bay abuse,' DMUK said.
The charity says supermarkets and operators of their private car parks often lack a commitment to prioritising improvements to accessibility barriers suffered by disabled drivers
A report published in June estimates that for every disabled parking bay in the UK, there are currently 52 permit holders, with many reporting a daily scramble to access the limited spaces available.
As such, two in five disabled customers have been forced to leave car parks because there were no available suitable spaces.
More than a third (36 per cent) reported non-badge holders occupying accessible bays, according to a recent Confused.com report.
According to a report by The Purple Pound, supermarkets lose £501million a month through lack of accessibility for disabled visitors.
'Accessible parking bays aren't just a nice-to-have - they're a lifeline. Without them, so many disabled people are shut out of everyday life, whether that's getting to work, buying food, going to appointments, or just being part of their community,' explains Dr Shani Dhanda, an award-winning disability inclusion and accessibility specialist.
'When bays are misused or not properly enforced, it sends a really clear message that our access and independence aren't a priority.
'Baywatch matters because it's not just raising awareness - it's holding people to account and pushing for real change.'
Shocking abuse experienced by disabled drivers
Members of DMUK have been sharing their own personal experiences of visiting supermarkets, with tales ranging from the disappointing to downright alarming.
Andy S said he had witnessed a father and adult daughter getting out of a car parked in a disabled bay with no blue badge in the windscreen.
'My daughter politely asked if they had forgotten to put the BB on display, the abuse that followed was disgusting,' he explained.
'I then approached the man and received the same.
'Security [in the supermarket] witnessed it and did nothing. I thought it was going to get physical [so] I walked away.'
Another male DMUK member detailed the difficulties he struggled during one visit.
'I went to a supermarket, which had 25 blue badge bays, all were full, only 10 cars had badges the rest had no badges on display, the supermarket said the car park was policed by a private company.
'I had to try parking elsewhere; it caused problems when my wheelchair lift blocked the car park access road.'
DMUK Member, Joyce K explained: 'I went to the supermarket to go shopping with one of my carers and the disabled bays were all full, there were six bays, only four had blue badges on display.
'When I confronted one of the drivers I was given abuse and told she would park where she wanted, the lady then walked off to go to cashpoint and other shops, I drove away.
'I tried to report it to the store only to be told the car park didn't belong to them so they couldn't do anything about it.'
Mary T detailed a very similar scenarios at a supermarket.
'I witnessed disabled bays being used by Uber/cab drivers as pick-up spots, plus a staff member eating his lunch in a car with no blue badge. I spoke to a person who identified as a supervisor and was rudely told he didn't care… I emailed the supermarket Customer Relations which was not replied too,' she said.
Misuse of Blue Badge scheme is rife
In May, the British Parking Association (BPA) - the body representing private parking operators - said it is witnessing startlingly high instances of misuse and fraud by dishonest motorists who are 'undermining the integrity of the Blue Badge scheme' and making 'day to day life more difficult for those who genuinely need it'.
It also highlighted that the number of blue badges stolen in London alone increased by 400 per cent between 2014 and 2023, with the victims of this crime being those that rely on accessible parking in order carry out vital everyday activities.
The BPA is now calling on local authorities and councils to be given greater ability and mechanisms to effectively tackle the issue and put a stop to this ongoing abuse.
'Perpetrators are currently not deterred by the limited consequences for their action,' the trade body said.
The association has called on the Government to review the civil and criminal powers and resources available to tackle the problem, including consideration for introduction of penalty charges commensurate with the social impact of Blue Badge misuse.
This is Money raised the statistics with the Department for Transport.
A DfT spokesperson said: 'Exploitation of the Blue Badge scheme is completely unacceptable – it is a vital resource helping many people travel with confidence.
'We are supporting the police to tackle this issue by working closely with local authorities and have strengthened their powers to help them tackle fraud and misuse.'
Participants who complete the Baywatch survey between 21 July and 15 August will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £50 M&S gift cards and are encouraged to complete the survey multiple times during the campaign. A link to the survey can be found here
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Moment police snare suspects after £100k Apple device raid on phone shop
Moment police snare suspects after £100k Apple device raid on phone shop

The Independent

time23 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Moment police snare suspects after £100k Apple device raid on phone shop

This is the moment police found a haul of Apple devices worth nearly £100,000 in the back seat of a car after masked raiders hit a phone shop in central London. Officers were called to reports of a burglary at the O2 store in Tottenham Court Road on 24 July, where a gang reportedly entered the shop wearing balaclavas and made off with around 100 iPhones and scores of Apple Watches. Three men aged 25, 24, and 18 were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary minutes later in nearby Cranleigh Street. A search on the car also uncovered a large machete. All three remain in custody.

Devon and Cornwall crime commissioner sorry for multiple bodies claim
Devon and Cornwall crime commissioner sorry for multiple bodies claim

The Guardian

time24 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Devon and Cornwall crime commissioner sorry for multiple bodies claim

A police and crime commissioner has apologised for claiming that multiple human remains had been discovered in woodland in Cornwall at the centre of a murder investigation. Alison Hernandez told a meeting of the Devon and Cornwall police and crime panel that 'dead bodies' had been found at Sticker, near St Austell, and investigations were continuing to establish exactly how many. Devon and Cornwall police said in response that the body of one man had been recovered from woods and no other remains had been found. Police and forensic experts have been carrying out extensive inquiries in the woodland since the discovery of the body of 43-year-old Daniel Coleman. James Desborough, 39, is accused of murdering Coleman, from St Austell, between 2 June and 7 July. He is due back before Truro crown court next month. Hernandez said on Friday evening: 'In trying to be helpful I responded to an operational question at the police and crime panel, however, I was not fully up to date with the facts of the investigation. 'I apologise for any alarm this may have caused. The police have operational primacy over these matters.' Det Supt Jon Bancroft, with Devon and Cornwall police, said: 'We currently have three separate murder investigations being conducted in the Cornwall area. 'I have oversight of all of these investigations at this time, and can confirm they are being carried out independently of each other and are not believed to be linked. 'I can categorically state that we have recovered remains believed to be those of Daniel Coleman only from an area of woodland in Sticker.' Police are also investigating the discovery of the body of Lee Hockey, 50, who was found in separate woodland between Truro and Probus on 1 July. A third murder inquiry is under way after a fatal fire at a residential property in Newquay on 22 July. The body of a man in his 30s was found in the property, with a 33-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police chief apologises for claiming multiple bodies had been found in a murder probe after two bodies were discovered within 10 miles of each other
Police chief apologises for claiming multiple bodies had been found in a murder probe after two bodies were discovered within 10 miles of each other

Daily Mail​

time24 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Police chief apologises for claiming multiple bodies had been found in a murder probe after two bodies were discovered within 10 miles of each other

A police and crime commissioner has apologised after claiming multiple bodies had been found in a murder probe after two bodies were discovered within 10 miles of each other. Two murder investigations were launched in Cornwall after two bodies were found in separate woodlands. Earlier this month, Daniel Coleman's remains were found in Paramoor Woods near the Cornish village of Sticker. Officers had been scouring the area for several months - aided by specialist teams from the National Crime Agency - when they found the 43-year-old's remains. Mr Coleman vanished last month from St Austell and is thought to have died between June 2 and July 7. A man has been charged with his murder. The body of Lee Hockey, 50, was also found in a nearby woodland between Truro and Probus on July 1. Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, previously told a panel several bodies were discovered as part of the investigation into Mr Coleman's death. 'We've found dead bodies in that wood,' Ms Hernandez said, adding that officers were trying to work out 'how many were there'. The Police and Crime Commissioner has since issued an apology after these claims were refuted by the local police force. Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: 'In trying to be helpful I responded to an operational question at the Police and Crime Panel today, however, I was not fully up to date with the facts of the investigation. I apologise for any alarm this may have caused. 'The police have operational primacy over these matters. Any investigation will unfold rapidly and I was not in possession of all the facts at that time.' Detective Superintendent Jon Bancroft previously confirmed Mr Hockey's death is being investigated separately. 'We currently have three separate murder investigations being conducted in the Cornwall area,' Mr Bancroft said, referring to a third inquiry which was launched after a fatal fire at a residential property in Newquay on July 22. He continued: 'I have oversight of all of these investigations at this time, and can confirm they are being carried out independently of each other and are not believed to be linked. 'I can categorically state that we have recovered remains believed to be those of Daniel Coleman only from an area of woodland in Sticker. No other remains have been located at this scene to date.' It comes after Ms Hernandez said it had been necessary to bring in extra support to aid the investigation. 'Some of the elements of that operation I can't speak about but some of the things are very obvious,' she said. 'As you know there is a large crime scene that has been identified in Cornwall that is requiring a lot of effort to even scene guard the area. 'The level of expertise, some of the mutual aid we've brought in, is expertise in specific types of investigations that we didn't have. 'The National Crime Agency is supporting the organisation at the moment. 'I want to thank all the other forces that are coming in at a very busy time for themselves to offer mutual aid. It's largely investigative mutual aid that we've brought in. 'Until some of those elements have been established of exactly what we're dealing with there, it will be made public at that time. 'I know there's been some information in the media. We've got a huge forensic tent down there.' Mr Coleman was reported missing on June 1. James Desborough, 39, of Lower Sticker, has been charged with his murder. Desborough has since appeared before Bodmin Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear before Truro Crown Court on August 8. When asked 10 days ago about 'multiple bodies' in the search area, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were working to recover Mr Coleman's body and that forensic investigations of the site related to him. The third murder inquiry follows a fatal fire at a residential property in Newquay on July 22. The body of a man in his 30s was found in the property and a 33-year-old man from Bolton was arrested on suspicion of murder.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store