The schemes have reached a new high in usage, with one in 20 people in England now holding a permit.

The AA is calling for a clampdown on offences involving stolen, counterfeit, or misused badges, warning that up to one in five may not be used by the legitimate holder.

Blue badges are intended to help people with disabilities park closer to shops and services.

Calls for a crackdown on the misuse of blue badges

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “The blue badge scheme is a mobility lifeline for millions of legitimate users and their families.

“Our concern is not the absolute number of badges issued but the estimates that up to one in five badges may be used by someone other than the holder or authorised user.

“Fraud is an issue which can include family misuse, use after death, counterfeit badges and theft and resale of badges.

“We would welcome a crackdown on illegitimate use of badges to safeguard the deserving users.”

New figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) reveal that 5.2 per cent of people in England held a blue badge as of March 31, 2025.

The use of blue badges has hit a record high. (Image: Getty Images)

This equates to 3.07 million badges and marks an eight per cent increase compared to the previous year.

The highest proportion of badge holders was recorded in the north east, at 6.1 per cent of the population, while the lowest was in London at 3.5 per cent.

The surge in badge holders may be partly due to expanded eligibility.

In 2019, the scheme was broadened to include people with non-visible disabilities such as Parkinson’s, dementia, and epilepsy.

More than two-fifths of badges issued in 2024/25 were granted without further assessment.

Blue badge holders can often park for free in pay-and-display bays and are permitted to park on single and double yellow lines for up to three hours, depending on local regulations.

In London, blue badges also exempt users from the daily £18 congestion charge.

While there are no recent figures for the cost of blue badge fraud in the UK, the National Fraud Authority – a now-closed Home Office agency – estimated it to be £46 million per year in 2011.

Recent prosecutions highlight the ongoing problem.

In January, Croydon Council said seven offenders were ordered to pay a total of £6,000 in a combination of fines, court costs, and a victim surcharge.

The cases involved badges which were stolen, counterfeit or belonged to someone else.

Barking and Dagenham Council in east London reported four convictions for illegal use of blue badges in December last year.

Gateshead Council also prosecuted a driver that month for using another person’s permit.

In September 2025, Oxfordshire County Council reported two convictions, including a man caught using his deceased grandmother’s badge.

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A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: “Although the vast majority of badges are used correctly, there is a small minority who fraudulently use other people’s, either to save money by parking in disabled bays or through laziness, depriving someone with a genuine need.

“It is important to catch these criminals in the act.

“To help councils win the fight against blue badge fraud, residents must keep tipping councils off about people they suspect are illegally using a badge, bearing in mind people’s need for a badge might not be obvious.”

A spokesperson for the DfT said: “Exploitation and abuse of the blue badge scheme is completely unacceptable and is a criminal offence.

“Local authorities have been given improved powers to crack down on fraud and misuse in their area and work closely with the police.”

Do you think enough is being done about the misuse of blue badges? Let us know in the comments.

The design, drawn up in 1705 by architect Sir John Vanbrugh, was intended for the site now occupied by the Orangery at the Oxfordshire palace.

Vanbrugh’s early 18th-century sketches reveal that the area near the Flagstaff Gate was meant to become a ‘thermae’ bathing house for the Duke of Marlborough, but the plan was ultimately abandoned due to high engineering costs.

The plans were discovered by archivists and the Built Heritage team at Blenheim.

Kelly O’Driscoll, head of built heritage at Blenheim Palace, said: “During our vital restoration project, we’ve been closely examining the original plans for the Palace and were intrigued to make this discovery.

“Rome was the birthplace of the Baroque style, and Baroque artists and patrons drew heavily on Ancient Roman grandeur, so it stands to reason that the Duke and Vanbrugh would have discussed the idea of a Roman bath.

“Sadly, the cost to install the heating and plumbing required proved to be too much even for someone of the Duke of Marlborough’s standing.

“What we do have instead, however, is the stunning Orangery, which is still enjoyed today by thousands of visitors.”

Sir John Vanbrugh’s legacy is currently being celebrated at Blenheim Palace in the Blueprints of Power exhibition, part of the nationwide Vanbrugh300 campaign.

The exhibition, which has been extended to May 31, offers visitors an interactive exploration of Vanbrugh’s life and work.

Tickets and further details can be found at www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/blueprints-of-power.html.

The 41st edition of the event, held in Grove on Sunday, March 29, saw 515 finishers racing in largely favourable conditions, despite a moderate breeze in the latter half of the race.

James Ellis from Abingdon AC claimed the top spot overall with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 11 seconds.

He maintained a lead from the start and gradually pulled away from the pack, finishing more than a minute ahead of second-placed James Davis from Dacorum AC.

Previous race winner Matthew Lock from Witney Road Runners finished third.

In the women’s race, Natasha Roebuck, from Witney Road Runners, took the title with a time of 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 26 seconds.

Her teammate Isabel Stubbs secured second, with Lieben Dickens, also from Headington Road Runners, in third.

The men’s team prize was granted to Witney Road Runners, with a squad consisting of Matthew Lock, Dan Blake, Jack Gavin, and Paul Taylor, who outperformed teams from Abingdon AC and Woodstock Harriers.

The women’s team from Witney Road Runners, including Natasha Roebuck, Isabel Stubbs, and Lauren Beedie, won the top prize for the third consecutive year.

Their B team finished second, followed by Headington Road Runners in third.