feature: Crackdown on Blue Badge abuse
5 February 2008
Haringey Council and the Police have launched joint operations to crack down on the theft and abuse of disabled Blue Badges. Haringey People finds out more.
Haringey’s fastest rising area of crime isn’t robbery. It’s not arson, GBH or even anti-social behaviour.
In fact it’s the theft of Blue Badges. These are issued by the council to enable disabled people to park in certain restricted areas, making it easier for them to get to the shops and visit friends and family.
On average, around four badges are being reported stolen each week, often involving car break-ins.
But Haringey Council, together with Haringey Police, have launched a major crack down to tackle the problem. More than a dozen joint operations have taken place around the borough in the last few months.
Cars displaying stolen Blue Badges have been towed away, while police have brought charges for a range of offences, including theft, handling stolen goods, fraud and forgery of Blue Badges.
Inspector Mark Hembury, Haringey Borough Safer Neighbourhood Inspector, said: “The Blue Badge system exists to enable disabled people to visit friends and relatives and get to their local shops more easily. Those who abuse the system are not only breaking the law, they’re also preventing disabled people from getting around the borough.
“We want to send out a clear message that the theft and misuse of Blue Badges is completely unacceptable, and people abusing the system will be caught.
“With the council we will continue to target people who are using stolen passes in their own vehicles to obtain free parking. We will not tolerate the theft of blue badges and we will deal robustly with offenders.”
The police and parking attendants check the serial number on Blue Badges to see whether they have been reported lost or stolen. If that’s the case, the driver of the vehicle is arrested on the spot.
Where the driver is not in the area, the council’s parking attendants ticket the vehicle and have it removed. The police can then later make arrests at the council’s car pound.
You can learn more about the Blue Badge scheme and apply for a genuine badge by visiting the Blue Badge Scheme page or call 020 8489 1878/1865
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