London Blue Badge misuse has risen by 500% in four years according to investigators, putting Disabled residents’ independence at risk. The scheme allows people with disabilities to park closer to their destination, but some motorists are using badges illegally to avoid parking restrictions.
Campaigners say stolen and misused badges are forcing disabled people out of bays they rely on, with enforcement varying widely across boroughs.
One in five Londoners is misusing badges, according to The National Agency for Blue Badge Fraud Investigations (BBFI). Paul Slowey, CEO of BBFI, told City News:
“20% of all badges are being used by the friends or family of their owners, or are lost, fake or stolen.”
Misuse includes:
borrowing a relative’s badge to avoid parking charges
using the badge of someone who has died
displaying counterfeit permits bought online
repeatedly using a stolen badge.
Offenders face fines of up to £1,000 or imprisonment.
The BBFI investigates misuse by verifying badges, tracking illegal sales, and supporting local council enforcement.
The agency found that 12% of detected cases in London involved fake badges, up from 2% in 2022.
Stolen badges account for 17% of detected fraud cases. Many are resold through social media or door-to-door networks. Paul believes these statistics show the increasing issue of misuse.
Credit: Jada Naidu
Enforcement varies widely across London.
Across London, the enforcement of blue badge surveillance has varied between boroughs. Some local councils have begun prosecution as a form of deterrence.
As of January 2026, nine people have been convicted in Ealing for fraudulent badge use, with fines and costs totalling nearly £4,000.
Ealing Councillor Paul Driscoll told City News: “Every badge falsely used is a disabled person deprived of the access they need. We will continue to pursue offenders with the severity needed to uphold fairness.”
Hammersmith and Fulham seized 475 badges last year, 35% of which were stolen. Enfield and Croydon have also brought recent prosecutions. The councils declined to comment.
Paul Slowey applauded the work of Ealing and Hammersmith:
“There are lots of boroughs that are not doing anything. If every authority checked every badge, removed fakes, stolen, lost, deceased badges, we could get compliance.”
This week Hammersmith and Fulham launched a digital permit for residents, which allows them to park only in their home zone without displaying a physical badge.
This scheme helps reduce theft but does not prevent misuse networks. Physical badges are still required outside the borough.
London resident Owen, has had his Blue Badge stolen three times, and expressed doubts about the digital scheme:
“A Blue Badge is personal to the individual, not tied to a phone or vehicle. Digital permits might look good in theory, but they would not help with misuse. Someone could use my phone.”
Owen now locks his badge to his steering column using a metal cable. He believes his own preventative measures have been more effective than local council enforcement.
Other boroughs highlight the scale of enforcement gaps.
Jeremy Keates from Ruils, a charity to support disabled independent living, said, “In Richmond, there is a severe lack of Blue Badge parking bays, compounded by low levels of enforcement and rising theft and criminal use.”
Ruils’ 2026 Transport Survey also found that private car use scored highest for accessibility among disabled residents. This means that stricter enforcement against misuse is essential to safeguard disabled people’s independence.
Credit: Jada Naidu
Impact on Blue Badge holders
For badge holders, misuse reduces already limited access to priority parking.
Phil Stevens of Disability Action Haringey said the Blue Badge scheme is essential.
“The Blue Badge scheme is fundamentally about equal access, safety and autonomy”
He added that misuse fuels negative perceptions around the scheme. He noted, “Legitimate badge holders feel scrutinised”.
While supporting Haringey Council’s efforts to tackle fraud, Stevens stressed the broader consequences for disabled people in London:
“Without accessible parking close to destinations, many residents would be effectively excluded from everyday activities that others take for granted.”
Without consistent enforcement across all boroughs, accessible parking for disabled Londoners remains uneven and at risk.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineMisused Blue Badges leave Disabled Londoners without parking
Short HeadlineBlue Badge Misuse On The Rise in London
StandfirstEnforcement of Blue Badge rules varies across London Boroughs, leaving disabled residents at risk.
London Blue Badge misuse has risen by 500% in four years according to investigators, putting Disabled residents’ independence at risk. The scheme allows people with disabilities to park closer to their destination, but some motorists are using badges illegally to avoid parking restrictions.
Campaigners say stolen and misused badges are forcing disabled people out of bays they rely on, with enforcement varying widely across boroughs.
One in five Londoners is misusing badges, according to The National Agency for Blue Badge Fraud Investigations (BBFI). Paul Slowey, CEO of BBFI, told City News:
“20% of all badges are being used by the friends or family of their owners, or are lost, fake or stolen.”
Misuse includes:
borrowing a relative’s badge to avoid parking charges
using the badge of someone who has died
displaying counterfeit permits bought online
repeatedly using a stolen badge.
Offenders face fines of up to £1,000 or imprisonment.
The BBFI investigates misuse by verifying badges, tracking illegal sales, and supporting local council enforcement.
The agency found that 12% of detected cases in London involved fake badges, up from 2% in 2022.
Stolen badges account for 17% of detected fraud cases. Many are resold through social media or door-to-door networks. Paul believes these statistics show the increasing issue of misuse.
Credit: Jada Naidu
Enforcement varies widely across London.
Across London, the enforcement of blue badge surveillance has varied between boroughs. Some local councils have begun prosecution as a form of deterrence.
As of January 2026, nine people have been convicted in Ealing for fraudulent badge use, with fines and costs totalling nearly £4,000.
Ealing Councillor Paul Driscoll told City News: “Every badge falsely used is a disabled person deprived of the access they need. We will continue to pursue offenders with the severity needed to uphold fairness.”
Hammersmith and Fulham seized 475 badges last year, 35% of which were stolen. Enfield and Croydon have also brought recent prosecutions. The councils declined to comment.
Paul Slowey applauded the work of Ealing and Hammersmith:
“There are lots of boroughs that are not doing anything. If every authority checked every badge, removed fakes, stolen, lost, deceased badges, we could get compliance.”
This week Hammersmith and Fulham launched a digital permit for residents, which allows them to park only in their home zone without displaying a physical badge.
This scheme helps reduce theft but does not prevent misuse networks. Physical badges are still required outside the borough.
London resident Owen, has had his Blue Badge stolen three times, and expressed doubts about the digital scheme:
“A Blue Badge is personal to the individual, not tied to a phone or vehicle. Digital permits might look good in theory, but they would not help with misuse. Someone could use my phone.”
Owen now locks his badge to his steering column using a metal cable. He believes his own preventative measures have been more effective than local council enforcement.
Other boroughs highlight the scale of enforcement gaps.
Jeremy Keates from Ruils, a charity to support disabled independent living, said, “In Richmond, there is a severe lack of Blue Badge parking bays, compounded by low levels of enforcement and rising theft and criminal use.”
Ruils’ 2026 Transport Survey also found that private car use scored highest for accessibility among disabled residents. This means that stricter enforcement against misuse is essential to safeguard disabled people’s independence.
Credit: Jada Naidu
Impact on Blue Badge holders
For badge holders, misuse reduces already limited access to priority parking.
Phil Stevens of Disability Action Haringey said the Blue Badge scheme is essential.
“The Blue Badge scheme is fundamentally about equal access, safety and autonomy”
He added that misuse fuels negative perceptions around the scheme. He noted, “Legitimate badge holders feel scrutinised”.
While supporting Haringey Council’s efforts to tackle fraud, Stevens stressed the broader consequences for disabled people in London:
“Without accessible parking close to destinations, many residents would be effectively excluded from everyday activities that others take for granted.”
Without consistent enforcement across all boroughs, accessible parking for disabled Londoners remains uneven and at risk.
Chan was convicted earlier today at Wood Green Crown Court after pleading guilty to 56 charges including sexual assault and making indecent images of children.
