Salford’s Blue Badge crackdown continues

The council made a decision in November 2024 to take action against offenders so legitimate users of Blue Badges could park easily.

A two-week amnesty opened before the crackdown took place and in that period 62 badges were handed back. Just two days after the amnesty ended a man was found to be using his deceased mother’s badge. He was fined £116 and made to pay costs of £350 with a victim surcharge of £46 at Manchester Magistrates Court.

Trained officers began patrolling the streets and carparks to identify and seize blue badges that were subject of abuse or misuse.

Currently there are 32 open investigations that the Corporate Fraud Department are working their way through. Twenty-nine cases are under investigation and three have reached prosecution stage. A large proportion of the cases involve counterfeit and cloned badges.

Councillor Barbara Bentham, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety at Salford City Council. said:

“A year ago we told our legitimate Blue Badges users that we would take action against those misusing the system and we are delivering on that commitment. This is all about making Salford a better and fairer place for all.

“When yellow bays are taken up by fraudulent users it impacts on those who genuinely need accessible parking. This is a national problem but we are determined to do all we can to eradicate it in this city.

“A huge thank you goes to the team on the streets who treat this issue sensitively and are doing a fantastic job. Blue Badge users have told us they are grateful for what we are doing to make it easier for them to park and go about their everyday business.”