Latest news with #parkingfraud
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Man used dead mother's Blue Badge permit to park in Salford
A man who used his dead mother's Blue Badge to park in Salford has been fined. The case was the first to go to court since the council announced a crackdown on the fraud in November. Last year a councillor claimed the scam was blocking parking spaces for disabled people who need. Coun Robin Garrido warned that disabled people faced being "stuck at home" because parking bays close to shops and district centres are sometimes taken by drivers with no entitlement to use a blue badge. The Tory councillor supported plans by the Labour-run council to take action against those using the permits illegally. READ MORE: LIVE: TWO hour delays on M62 after major lorry fire causes huge spillage - updates READ MORE: Paul Gallagher charged with rape and making threats to kill Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here The council launched a Blue Badge amnesty on October 28 lasting two weeks, where people could hand in blue badges which they are not entitled to use. But from November 11, the council started checking that blue badges being used in the city are correctly registered, and prosecuting people using them illegally. Salford Disability Forum said it supports the crackdown, and that blue badge fraud has an impact on disabled people who "really need" to use the spaces. Mr Omer Ali Kahn of Deerhurst Drive in Cheetham Hill, Manchester was fined £116 and made to pay costs of £350 with a victim surcharge of £46 at Manchester Magistrates Court on Friday 25 July. The offence took place on 13 November 2024 when Mr Khan used his deceased mother's Blue Badge to park on George Street North in Salford. The offence was found when civil enforcement officers were patrolling the streets. Officers noticed a Blue Badge that belonged to a female in a silver Audi that was parked on double yellow lines on the road. Two men walked to the car, no female was present. On further investigation it was found the Blue Badge holder had died in 2023. Councillor Barbara Bentham, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety at Salford City Council, said: 'In November 2024 we announced a crackdown on the abuse of Blue Badges in our city. Just two days after our amnesty ended our enforcement officers found the Blue Badge of a deceased woman being used in the city. 'We have made a promise to local people that we will take Blue Badge fraud seriously and we are doing so. The fraudulent misuse of badges means that sometimes disabled bays are not available and those who are in genuine need of parking closer to facilities or wider spaces to get in out of wheelchairs are not able to do so. 'Our officers patrolling the streets are fully trained and sensitive in their work. Legitimate Blue Badge users do not need to worry as we are not here to target them - we are here to make their lives easier.' Salford City Council uses spot checks, data sharing about lost, stolen and revoked badges and also public reporting to enforce the Blue Badge scheme. It is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act to misuse a Blue Badge and more than 400,000 people hold a Blue Badge in the north west.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- BBC News
Amnesty for fake parking permits and blue badges in Brighton
A council is launching an amnesty for people to hand in concessionary blue badges, parking permits and bus passes that are being used & Hove City Council said it wanted to give residents the opportunity to hand in passes, badges or permits they shouldn't be using, "no questions asked".A Worthing resident with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), who wished to remain anonymous, said the action could not come soon enough, adding: "I can't tell you how often people that don't have blue badges park in disabled spaces."Anyone with a pass, badge or permit that is out of date or that is being used incorrectly can take it to Hove Town Hall letterbox and Brighton Town Hall letterbox. The resident with MS told BBC South East that he often had to confront people when trying to park his mobility car."If they don't have a good reason for parking there, then I tear a strip off them and give them a piece of my mind," he is a condition that affects the central nervous system, and his symptoms include neuro muscular fatigue, he said. 'Simply destroy it' Concessionary bus passes for older and disabled people are a lifeline for thousands of people in Brighton and Hove, the council Trevor Muten urged people to take advantage of the amnesty, which will run throughout July and August."This type of fraud is not a victimless crime. It has a real impact on people who need them the most to get around Brighton and Hove," he said."I'd urge anyone with a pass, badge or permit they shouldn't have to hand it in or simply destroy it themselves."In 2023-24, enforcement and investigation officers carried out monthly joint action days with Sussex Police as part of Operation that time, 279 blue badges were retained by officers due to misuse, 197 community resolution orders were completed and 56 prosecutions were issued for fraudulent use of a blue badge, the council said.
