Crime & Safety
Fake blue badge abuse fuels calls for national crackdown
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.
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.
Jamie Clark, aged 36, from Henley was arrested on April 7 and charged the following day.
On April 9 he appeared before High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to six shoplifting offences and two counts of criminal damage, committed between 28 March and 2 April at Boots on Bell Street, Henley.
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He was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.
Police constable Sarah Puksis said: “This sentence sends a clear message – repeat shoplifting, particularly of high value goods, won’t be tolerated.
“We work closely with retailers to identify offenders and take firm action.”
This is not the first time Mr Clark has been in trouble with the law, nor is it the first time he has stolen from the Henley Boots.
In 2025, he was sentenced to four months and two weeks in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of shoplifting at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on November 18.
On October 21 and 22 last year, Clark forced open a cabinet in Boots on Bell Street and stole high-value fragrances worth a total of £4,965.
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Clark was arrested on November 17, 2025, and charged the same day.
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said on the latest incident: “We’re absolutely committed to tackling shoplifting and supporting local businesses.
“So please keep reporting incidents, save CCTV, and let us do the rest. Remember: the only thing you should be lifting in Boots… is your shopping basket.”
The 84-year-old actress admits in an upcoming film her feelings around her own mortality and her hopes of reaching 90.
Born and raised in Oxford, Ms Margolyes is perhaps most famous for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series and for her role as Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese’s 1993 film, The Age of Innocence, for which she won a BAFTA.
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The new documentary ‘Miriam Made Me Me’ is directed and produced by Simon Draper and edited by Gwyn Jones.
It will air at 9pm on Monday 13 April on BBC Two and iPlayer.
Initially intended to be a podcast series, Mr Draper ended up securing so much footage that he was able to create this film.
Speaking to Televisual, he said: “The result is an unfiltered portrait of an often controversial actress and her transformative effects on others; especially me.”
In the film, according to the Daily Mirror, Ms Margolyes shows her life including performing on stage and meeting the King and Queen.
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In addition, she reveals her thoughts on death, which she admits “feels extremely close”.
She said: “Death feels round the corner, behind the bush just up the road. I am scared of it, and I think I probably always will be, and I’m cross about death.”
In addition, she admits that she hopes to reach 90 and go without loss of pain or dignity.
Ms Margolyes has in the past spoken about the health problems that come with aging including that she cannot walk well.
She told Original Cin that as she was marketing recent film Holy Days.
Collins, 45, who has been struggling with life in the jungle, was confronted by pop star Sinitta.
It came after the campmates merged again after previously being split into two camps.
The singer questioned Gemma’s career and talent, referring to the TV personality as a “comedian”.
Tension rises in camp as Sinitta questions Gemma Collins’ career
In her original series, Collins quit after three days because she struggled with the environment in Australia, but she has called her appearance on the South African version of the TV show a “redemption”.
Sinitta asked the reality TV star about the musical Chicago, which Collins had been due to feature in as Matron “Mama” Morton in 2022, but had to withdraw from the production due to a “terrible injury”.
The singer, who has also featured in Chicago on stage, told Collins she thought the casting was a “joke announcement”.
Collins replied: “It’s not a joke, Sinitta, I auditioned for it fair and square.
“Did all the training and everything, had a voice coach.”
Sinitta explains: “I think you had just presented something, some awards, and fallen off the stage – it was like you were more of a comedian.”
Comparing her to US socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor, Sinitta adds: “Very camp, very glamorous.
Winners of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here
“You don’t really do anything, but you make a great entrance and make everybody laugh.
“I didn’t know you could actually sing, dance and all that jazz.”
Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt and comedian Seann Walsh look shocked as they listened to the tense discussion.
Gemma defended herself, saying: “I don’t think you’d get cast as Mama Morton in Chicago if you didn’t pass the audition.”
Speaking to the camera in a segment where she’s alone, Gemma said: “I’m not a joke, darling.
“I am not a joke.
“I have done everything in my life on my own.
“So I was just taken aback, but it was just a bit weird.”
Fans seemed to enjoy the drama with one sharing on X: “Sinitta Just digging herself further into this hole with what shes said to Gemma Collins
“#ImACeleb #ImACelebSouthAfrica”, adding a GIF of a man inside a big hole digging to make it bigger.
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Another fan suggested: “I think Sinitta feels a bit threatened by the possibility of loss of screen time since Gemma Collins joined main camp! #ImACeleb”.
Someone else said they thought Sinitta was “harsh”: “Sinitta Malone was a bit Harsh tonight.
“I mean, I Had to Google her Last Name.
“So Gemma Collins is more well-known than her.”
How to watch I’m A Celebrity… South Africa
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa is on at 9pm on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.
You can watch new episodes of the ITV show on weeknights.
Are you watching the new series? Let us know your favourite campmate in the comments below.
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