A crackdown was launched last year.
Fake Blue Badges are causing issues for people with a genuine need to use disabled bays, a charity has warned (Image: Declan Carey)
A ‘surge’ of fake Blue Badges are being used around Salford, the council has said, with a record number of cases opened by fraud investigators. Council officers launched 54 probes over the ‘abuse and misuse’ of Blue Badges between April and September this year according to a report.
It comes after a Blue Badge crackdown was launched last year, leading to one prosecution and six warning letters being issued, and ‘several other cases being prepared for prosecution.’
The council’s report stated: ‘The year to date has seen the highest number yet of cases opened as a result of working with the company providing the Parking Enforcement Officers, providing training and encouraging them to make referrals.
‘We have identified a surge in the number of fake badges in circulation and recently undertook a raid in conjunction with Trading Standards, immigration, food standards and planning following a tip-off that counterfeit badges were being produced at a shop in the borough.
‘This did not result in a positive outcome in respect of the Blue Badges but was a success for the other teams involved.’ Transport for All, a charity focused on disabled people and transport, warned that people misusing disabled parking bays are causing major problems for people with a genuine need for them.
Salford council said there’s been a ‘surge’ in fake Blue Badges around the city (Image: Declan Carey)
Research by the charity found that 70 per cent of disabled people reported a lack of disabled parking spaces despite having a Blue Badge, adding to the issue.
“As a disabled person [with a Blue Bade], if you can’t park near a shop it impacts your freedom to live life, and not being able to get around because someone has done something thoughtless,” said Cat Whitehouse, co-chief executive at Transport for All.
“We already know there are not enough Blue Badge bays, about one in five people in the UK are disabled, some will need a Blue Badge and some won’t, but there are not enough Blue Badge spaces.
“When you’ve got people who don’t need them selfishly taking away those spaces, it’s just wrong and it stops people being able to live properly.”
Salford council said it has opened more than 120 investigations in total since its Blue Badge crackdown was launched in November 2024.
A two-week amnesty before the crackdown started saw 62 badges handed back. The council said two days after the amnesty ended, a man was found to be using his deceased mother’s badge.
He was fined £116 and made to pay costs of £350 with a victim surcharge of £46 at Manchester Magistrates Court.
Coun Barbara Bentham, lead member for neighbourhoods, environment and community safety at Salford council, said: “A year ago we told our legitimate Blue Badges users that we would take action against those misusing the system and we are delivering on that commitment.
“This is all about making Salford a better and fairer place for all. When yellow bays are taken up by fraudulent users it impacts on those who genuinely need accessible parking.
“This is a national problem but we are determined to do all we can to eradicate it in this city. A huge thank you goes to the team on the streets who treat this issue sensitively and are doing a fantastic job.
“Blue Badge users have told us they are grateful for what we are doing to make it easier for them to park and go about their everyday business.”
