On the streets tackling Blue Badge misuse

Disabled Motoring UK joined BBFi on the Blue Badge Day of Action 2025, reports Zoe Rush

Local authorities and enforcement agencies across the UK participated in the Blue Badge Day of Action on Friday 30 May.

The Blue Badge Day of Action seeks to raise awareness about the misuse and abuse of disabled parking spaces and to highlight the importance of the Blue Badge scheme for disabled people. The day also helps promote the need for consistent enforcement, better signage, and improved public understanding. 

On 30 May, Disabled Motoring UK chief executive Graham Footer and I and joined Paul Slowey, founder of Blue Badge Fraud Investigations (BBFi), on the streets of west London to witness first-hand the reality of Blue Badge misuse as part of the fourth running Blue Badge Day of Action.

In just two hours on two streets, located less than 10 minutes from Shepherd’s Bush Westfield shopping centre, the scale of abuse was astonishing. Two vehicles were impounded, one Blue Badge was confiscated, and several others were flagged for further investigation.

On one street alone there were 29 parked vehicles, 18 of which were displaying Blue Badges. Based on the immediate enforcement action taken by local authority officers, conversations on the ground, and wider knowledge of common misuse patterns, it’s unlikely that all 18 were being used lawfully. 

This not only highlights the scale of the problem but also shows how improper use directly prevents genuine Blue Badge holders and residents from accessing essential parking spaces. The high level of misuse is far from uncommon.

BBFi produced a parking report in 2024 which highlights how widespread the abuse is in some towns. If you’d like to discover more click here 

So, what kinds of misuse did we witness during our time with BBFi?

Thanks to the Blue Badge database, on-the-ground intelligence and discussions held, BBFi officers were able to quickly identify a counterfeit Blue Badge. In another case, previous patrols and reports from residents revealed that someone was regularly using their sister’s Blue Badge for their own benefit, a clear breach of the rules. 

To hear more stories and a reflection on the day by BBFI and DMUK view our video by clicking here

Since its introduction in 2021, by new DMUK trustee Tom Gallagher, the day has continuously grown in popularity over the years, last year 142 councils participated in the day, and more are expected to take part this year.

The Blue Badge Day of Action reinforces the urgent need for continued enforcement and better education around Blue Badge rules. We hope to provide more data from the day once available.

If you’d like to hear more about what you can do and read about last year’s results please click here

Zoe Rush is marketing campaigns manager at Disabled Motoring UK