Councils combat Blue Badge misuse as part of National Blue Badge Awareness Week
5 June 2026
A record number of our member councils took part in a Day of Action, joining local authorities across the country to crack down on Blue Badge misuse during National Blue Badge Awareness Week.
City of York Council, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council and Leicester City Council took part on 14 May, with North Yorkshire Council participating on 15 May. During the exercise, enforcement officers carried out on-street checks across multiple locations.
Across the two days a total of 365 badges were checked. Penalty charge notices were issued to 16 drivers, and 12 instances of misuse are now under investigation by Veritau’s counter-fraud team.
This was the first time North Yorkshire Council took part in the national event. A total of 141 badges were inspected across Harrogate and Scarborough. No instances of misuse were identified.
Similarly, Leicester City Council also participated for the first time. A total of 48 badges were checked across several locations in the city, with 6 potential instances of misuse identified, which are now under investigation.
Last year more than 140 councils participated in the annual enforcement event resulting in over 10,000 badges being inspected. Misuse of a Blue Badge can occur in various ways, such as using someone else’s badge without the badge holder being present, continuing to use a badge issued to someone who has passed away, or displaying one that is expired, reported lost or stolen. Offenders risk prosecution and fines of up to £1,000.
North Yorkshire Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said:
“This day of action is important in making sure the Blue Badge scheme is respected and protected.”
“These badges provide essential support for people with mobility challenges, and it is vital they are used properly so those who need them most can access parking.”
“While it’s reassuring no misuse was identified during these checks, we will continue to monitor the scheme and take action where needed. We want to be clear that misuse will not be tolerated.”
Councillor Katie Lomas, Executive Member for Equality and Inclusion and with portfolio for fraud, said:
“We are committed to ensuring that these badges are used legitimately and uphold the rights of the 7,200 York residents who hold Blue Badges.”
“Days of action like this benefit disabled motorists by helping to stamp out Blue Badge fraud and misuse. It’s encouraging to see this relatively low level of suspected misuse. It suggests that people parking in the city centre are largely respecting this scheme and that genuine Blue Badge holders are more likely to be able to find the accessible parking they need.”
Councillor Peter Gavigan, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Environment & Sustainability, said:
“We work hard to ensure the town centre is accessible to all, and the Blue Badge scheme is a key part of that.”
“Those who rely on it do so responsibly, and to abuse it deprives those in genuine need of a vital resource.”
“While enforcement is always a last resort, the Blue Badge Day of Action is an important reminder that those who flout the rules can expect to receive a hefty fine.”
If you suspect fraud, please report it to the council’s counter fraud team, Veritau, immediately on 0800 9179 247 or [email protected] (for City of York Council residents, please email [email protected]).
