Warning over illegal blue badge use as number issued in Yorkshire surges

Yorkshire: The number of blue badges issued has jumped significantly. A fraud investigator warns that about 20% may be issued illegally.

Recent data shows around 119,000 blue badges were given out in Yorkshire and The Humber last year. This brings the total to about 295,000, a 17% increase over the past decade.

Now, about 5% of residents in the region have a blue badge. These badges help people with disabilities park closer to their destinations.

The rules for blue badges changed in 2019. They now include people with invisible disabilities like Parkinson’s and dementia. This change led to more applications.

However, concerns are rising about monitoring blue badge fraud. Paul Slowey, CEO of the National Agency for Blue Badge Fraud Investigations, estimates that one in five badges may be misused.

He noted that more badges mean a higher chance of fraud. Below are the numbers of blue badges issued in various local areas in Yorkshire.

### Kirklees
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 8,300
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 20,000 (2% increase over the last 10 years)
– Residents with blue badge: 5%

### Calderdale
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 4,700
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 12,000 (27% increase in past 10 years)
– Residents with blue badge: 6%

### Leeds
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 14,200
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 37,000
– Residents with blue badge: 4%

### Bradford
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 7,300
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 18,000 (8% decrease over the last 10 years)
– Residents with blue badge: 3%

### Sheffield
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 12,100
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 26,000
– Residents with blue badge: 5%

### Rotherham
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 6,900
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 17,000
– Residents with blue badge: 6%

### Barnsley
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 6,700
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 16,000
– Residents with blue badge: 7%

### Doncaster
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 8,100
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 19,000 (43% increase over the last 10 years)
– Residents with blue badge: 6%

### York
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 3,300
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 8,000 (10% increase over the last 10 years)
– Residents with blue badge: 4%

### North Yorkshire
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 15,500
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 39,000
– Residents with blue badge: 6%

### East Yorkshire
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 9,300
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 25,000
– Residents with blue badge: 7%

### Hull
– Blue badges issued 2023/2024: 5,400
– Blue badges held 2023/2024: 14,000
– Residents with blue badge: 5%

Across England, blue badge usage has increased by 10% year-on-year. By March, there were 2.8 million valid blue badges, the highest since 1996-97.

The percentage of the population with a blue badge rose from 4.6% to 4.9%. However, Slowey warns that the exact number of fraudulent badges is unclear.

He estimates around 560,000 badges, or 20%, may have been issued fraudulently. He criticized the Government for not releasing prosecution data since 2021.

Slowey emphasized the need to ensure badges are used correctly. He stated that misuse should lead to prosecution.

A British Parking Association spokesperson noted that more blue badge holders make it crucial to protect the scheme’s integrity.

Steve Gooding from the RAC Foundation cautioned able-bodied drivers against misusing disabled bays. He reminded everyone that they could one day rely on blue badges.

A Department for Transport representative said they stopped releasing fraud figures because the data was not widely used. They stressed that misuse of the blue badge scheme is unacceptable.

They are working with local authorities to tackle fraud and misuse effectively.