Westminster clamping down on fraudulent disabled badges (25/07/2007)

Westminster City Council and JBW enforcement agency has launched a joint, six week operation to combat disabled badge fraud and misuse.

The aim is to build up a database of information detailing occurrences of suspected misuse of disabled badges and to identify fraudulently obtained and forged badges.

At present, it is extremely difficult to measure misuse and fraud in relation to disabled badges as there is no central database of valid permits. This exercise therefore seeks to set a benchmark figure, which the council can thereafter seek to reduce through a proactive approach.

If a disabled badge is suspected of having been tampered, forged or misused then the inspectors will gather evidence and refer the case to the council's fraud team as well as placing a warning notice on the vehicle's windscreen. For obvious cases of misuse, the vehicle will be issued with a PCN or immobilised.

The high-visibility operation is also being used as a deterrent for would be fraudsters. In the first two weeks, it has already taken one vehicle off the road due to a fraudulent badge. The vehicle was displaying a forged white badge and owed £140 from three outstanding parking tickets.

The council estimates that each disabled badge is worth over £5,000 in terms of possible concessions, such as free parking, that it affords. This means that if 5% of the total 4,700 badges are being misused, the council would be losing over £1 million in revenue. In the last 12 months, Westminster's Fraud team issued 36 cautions for disabled badge abuse, and prosecuted 2 individuals.

Director of Parking, Alastair Gilchrist said:

"We are undertaking this operation to gain a clearer picture about the extent of disabled badge fraud.

"We also hope to send out a clear deterrent message to would-be fraudsters: it is not acceptable under any circumstances to fraudulently use a disabled badge.

"We take a zero tolerance approach to disabled badge misuse. Whether the badges are forged or fraudulently obtained, they are restricting the availability of parking spaces for those with a disability and genuine need of that parking place.

"From a recent day's survey of all vehicles using a disabled badge in Westminster, 4% of the vehicles accounted for 97% of the 219 warrants outstanding, strongly suggesting that these badges were duplicates or being used fraudulently to avoid enforcement action.

"These individuals are inherently selfish and abuse this crucial scheme for financial gain and have scant regard for those who genuinely need disabled badges.

"We estimate that each badge is worth over £5,000 in benefits to the council in parking revenue. By clamping down on the misuse of disabled badges we are therefore saving the council money and able to provide a better facility for our disabled users."

Jamie Waller, Managing Director at JBW said:

"We are pleased to be involved in this partnership with Westminster and hope the project will result in fraudulent badge users being identified and prosecuted.

"We anticipate our on-street presence and hands on approach will deter people from misusing the badge and will allow legitimate users the spaces they are entitled too."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Members of the public who suspect that disabled badge fraud and misuse is taking place should contact the council directly on free phone fraud hotline: 0800 028 9888 or website: www.westminster.gov.uk/parking/permits.

JBW is the enforcement services agency in support of a civilized effective and sustainable community leading the edge of enforcement. They take innovative approaches to problems that affect the community and by working in partnership with local authorities, such as Westminster, aim to solve them. Westminster recently asked NCP to record in a 24hr period all vehicles identified as displaying a disabled badge (White / Blue / issued by any borough). Of the 1150 identified 4% of the vehicles fell under the PE definition and accounted for 97% of all CoW warrants.

Over the six week period, over 1,200 vehicles will be checked- almost a quarter of all white badges issued. The estimate of the value of a disabled badge in Westminster (£5,000) is based on average cost of parking (£3 per hour) multiplied by 10 hours per day at 60% occupancy for 260 days in a year.

There are 250,000 blue badges in London. There are 4700 white badges issued by Westminster Council with 370 disabled bays.

Westminster is one of the most stringent boroughs in issuing its disabled badge scheme due to its Central London location. Those applying for a badge must be first seen by an occupational therapist to ensure that they meet the statutory requirements.