There are increasing concerns the Blue Badge scheme for people with disabilities is both oversubscribed and ‘shockingly’ exploited as cases of misuse have spiralled in recent years.
A new report published today estimates that for every disabled parking bay in the UK, there are currently 52 permit holders, with many reporting a daily scramble to access the limited spaces available.
The study found there are now almost 3.3million permit holders in the UK but a mere 63,000 designated bays across the country for them to use.
Demand for Blue Badges has been accelerating at an unprecedented levels since 2019, when the number of applicants swelled after the Government extended eligibility to those with ‘hidden’ disabilities for the first time. Confused.com says the rate of new applications has increasing by 31 per cent between 2022 and 2024.
In total, 1.3million new applications were made over the three-year period – and that’s on top of the 1.5million renewal applications requested by existing holders – as the scheme becomes overwhelmed.
The report follows the release of figures that exposed how misuse cases relating to Blue Badge misuse have increased by over 1,000 per cent in less than a decade, highlighting a ‘serious and growing problem of fraud and abuse’.
There are increasing concerns that the Blue Badge scheme for people with disabilities is both oversubscribed and ‘shockingly’ exploited as cases of misuse have spiralled in recent years
Of the 2.8million total applications over the three-year period reviewed, just 245,566 – around 9 per cent – were declined on various grounds.
Of the reasons for rejections from the scheme, some were found to have failed to meet the necessary criteria, though others were denied due to unreceived payments, applications made to incorrect local authorities, and failure to provide all information as part of health assessments.
The reason for scheme numbers to dramatically surge in recent years dates back to the Tory Government’s 2019 decision to extend access to permits for those with hidden disabilities, including mental health conditions, dementia and Crohn’s Disease.
It was described by the DfT as the biggest shake-up to the scheme ‘since the 1970s’.
It was spearheaded by Grant Shapps and his ‘Inclusive Transport Strategy’, with the decision made at the conclusion of an eight-week consultation a year earlier.
But the comparison site on Wednesday said the oversubscription issue is also being exacerbated by other drivers wrongly using disabled parking spaces when they shouldn’t.
In 2019, the Tory Government extended eligibility to the Blue Badge scheme to those with ‘hidden disabilities’
The new rules introduced six years ago allows those with mental health conditions and other hidden disabilities – such as Chron’s disease and dementia – to received a Blue Badge
Blue Badge holders can use disabled parking bays, park for free in pay-and-display spaces and for up to three hours on yellow lines
According to a Freedom of Information request to 207 UK councils (of which 182 responded with data), 705,310 penalty charge notices were issued for misuse of disabled parking bays between 2022 and 2024.
In a poll of 2,000 UK drivers, a third (36 per cent) of those who have a blue badge (11 per cent) said they’ve turned up somewhere needing to park, only to find someone without a permit using one of the designated spaces. A similar volume said there aren’t enough accessible disabled spaces where they live.
Two thirds said they are often left with no other option but to park in a standard-sized bay, which do not provide access for wheelchairs or to those with mobility issues, while two in five have been forced to drive elsewhere to find suitable parking provisions.
| Country | Number of disabled bays | Number of Blue Badge permit holders |
|---|---|---|
| England | 43,604 | 2,635,428 |
| Scotland | 16,808 | 271,966 |
| Wales | 2588 | 219,614 |
| Northern Ireland | NA | 149,038 |
| Source: Confused.com | ||
Last month, the nation’s parking trade association vowed to crackdown on Blue Badge fraud, having seen instances of misuse skyrocket.
Instances of reported abuse of the scheme have grown from hundreds per year in 2016 to over 3,500 cases by 2023 in what the British Parking Association (BPA) called a blatant ‘undermining of the integrity’ of the scheme.
Permit thefts are also becoming a bigger issue, with the number of Blue Badges stolen in London alone jumping by 400 per cent between 2014 and 2023.
Blue Badge misuse is deemed a criminal offence that could lead to a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the badge.
It can also result in court prosecution, and legal action may also be taken in circumstances where false information has been provided to acquire a Blue Badge.
Rhydian Jones, commercial director at Confused.com, said the study highlights that the ‘system is struggling’ due to an imbalance of permits versus parking spaces – and other drivers abusing the rules.
‘It’s clear that more needs to be done – both to increase the number of accessible bays and to prevent misuse,’ he said.
The comparison site has created its own Blue Badge parking space finder tool for permit holders to use.
Reported instances of Blue Badge misuse have grown from a matter of hundreds in 2016 to over 3,500 cases in 2023, National Blue Badge says
The British Parking Association has warned there is a ‘serious and growing problem of fraud and abuse of the Blue Badge scheme’
Borrowing Granny’s badge…
The range of permit abuse identified by National Blue Badge – the enforcement agency working on behalf of local authorities to identify misuse – between 2016 and 2023 included a range of issues, from intentional theft, organised fraud, producing and selling counterfeit badges online, and using deceased people’s permits.
However, the most common type of abuse is the often presumed ‘innocent’ act of ‘borrowing Granny’s badge’ just for free and convenient parking.
‘For every badge being misused, a space has been denied to a genuine badge holder, potentially preventing them from attending appointments, socialising and being able to get around independently,’ the BPA said in its May report.
It went on to call for local authorities and councils to be given greater ability and mechanisms to effectively tackle the issue and put a stop to this ongoing abuse.
‘Perpetrators are currently not deterred by the limited consequences for their action,’ the trade body said.
The most common type of scheme abuse is the often presumed ‘innocent’ act of ‘borrowing Granny’s badge’ just for free and convenient parking, the BPA said
The comparison site said the oversubscription issue is also being exacerbated by other drivers wrongly using disabled parking spaces when they shouldn’t, Confused.com warned
Alison Tooze, policy officer at the BPA, commented: ‘The statistics around the level of Blue Badge misuse and fraud are shocking.
‘We cannot continue to ignore this issue, especially when the victims are some of the most vulnerable in our society.
‘Badge holders rely on accessible parking to carry out their day-to-day activities and for many it is a vital part of living an independent life.
‘Perpetrators of blue badge misuse and fraud deprive genuine badge holders of this right to freedom, whilst costing ordinary taxpayers millions every year. This must stop.’
This is Money raised the statistics with the Department for Transport last month.
A DfT spokesperson told us: ‘Exploitation of the Blue Badge scheme is completely unacceptable – it is a vital resource helping many people travel with confidence.
‘We are supporting the police to tackle this issue by working closely with local authorities and have strengthened their powers to help them tackle fraud and misuse.’
