Blue Badges: Shining a light without crossing the line

Best practice for social media and Blue Badge enforcement, writes Tom Gallagher

If you work in parking, you’ll know that Blue Badge misuse is one of the issues that gets the public talking, and rightly so. Every time we take action against someone abusing a badge, we’re protecting spaces for those who genuinely need them. It’s only natural that we want to share these successes, not just to show we’re doing our job, but to raise awareness and deter others.

But as someone who’s spent years in this field, I’ve learned that the way we communicate these stories, especially on social media, matters just as much as the enforcement itself. Get it right, and you build trust and confidence. Get it wrong, and you risk legal trouble, reputational damage, or even undermining your own case. 

My experience: The temptation and the trap

I’ve seen plenty of posts over the years, a civil enforcement officer (CEO) holding up a seized badge – a photo of a car parked where it shouldn’t be, a triumphant caption about “another fraudster caught.” 

Sometimes these posts go viral, and you can almost hear the collective cheer from genuine badge holders. But I’ve also seen the fallout when a post goes too far, when someone is identified before a case is proven, or when personal data is unintentionally shared.

The temptation is real. We want to show the world what we’re doing. But every post is a balancing act between transparency and privacy, between public interest and individual rights. 

Legal aspects: Where the lines are drawn

Let’s be clear, Blue Badges contain personal data. The front of the badge shows the holder’s month and year of birth, and even a gender marker. A vehicle, even with the plate blurred, might still be very easily recognised, especially if it’s distinctive or if the location is obvious in the photo. If someone local can spot the street or a unique feature, they can probably identify the vehicle and, by extension, the vehicle owner or the badge holder. That’s a risk we can’t ignore.

It’s also tempting to share details from the investigation, like: “The driver said the badge holder was at home.”

But including anything evidential in a public post is a minefield. In court, this could be seen as prejudicing the case or undermining the authority of the court.

There are additional legal implications too. Technically, if you publish details from the investigation, you may be creating material that should be included in pre-trial disclosure schedules. That’s not a position you want to find yourself in, especially if the defence argues that your post has influenced proceedings or public perception.

And don’t forget the appeal window. If a case goes to court and the defendant pleads not guilty but is found guilty, they have up to six months to appeal the verdict. During that time, it’s best practice to avoid posting anything that could be seen as prejudicial or that might complicate the appeal process. The last thing any of us want is for a social media post to be cited as a reason for an appeal or to undermine the integrity of the case. 

Best practice: My view

So, what’s the best way to use social media to highlight our Blue Badge enforcement work?

First, ask yourself, what’s the purpose of this post? If it’s to raise awareness and show that we’re taking action, you don’t need to show the badge, the car, or any personal details. 

A simple statement: “Our team has seized a Blue Badge suspected of misuse and the matter is under investigation”. 

This does the job. If you want to share a photo, use a generic image or make sure everything identifiable is thoroughly obscured.

If you’re posting after a conviction, you have more leeway, but I’d still urge caution. Focus on the outcome and the positive impact: “Following a successful prosecution, we’ve protected spaces for genuine badge holders.” If you do use images, blur out anything that could identify the individual, and avoid sharing unnecessary details from the case.

Tone matters, too. It’s understandable to have the urge to want to “name and shame”. But is it not more powerful to share about how we’re here to protect the integrity of the Blue Badge scheme and support those who rely on it?

Finally, always get a second opinion. Run your draft post past a manager, your comms team, or legal if you’re unsure. If you wouldn’t be comfortable seeing the post about yourself or a family member, it’s probably best not to share it. 

In summary

This piece is offered as food for thought. The fantastic work our parking professionals do to uphold the integrity of the Blue Badge scheme should never be put at risk. Our intention is not to discourage proactive communication but to ensure that when we shine a light on enforcement, we do so responsibly. Thoughtful, intentional social media posts can raise awareness and build trust. Provided they respect privacy and legal boundaries. If you’re ever in doubt, remember, it’s better to be cautious than to be clever.
 
Tom Gallagher is interim head of parking at the London Borough of Ealing