Category Archives: News

Sheffield council action to combat fraud includes tackling fake Blue Badge bids

Sheffield Council has taken action to combat frauds ranging from sophisticated phishing operations by criminal gangs, to attempts to obtain Blue Badges for parking and deception over council homes. By Julia Armstrong, Local Democracy Reporter image by Jakub Pabis/unsplashimage by Jakub Pabis/unsplash The council’s audit and standards committee on Thursday (July 27) will hear about…

Sheffield council action to combat fraud includes tackling fake Blue Badge bids

originally publish by Julia Armstrong, Local Democracy Reporter The council’s audit and standards committee on Thursday (July 27) will hear about an internal audit that led to a total of 31 fraud investigations in 2022/23. A report to the committee said that some fraud is committed by staff: “As the council has such a large…

Defendant ordered to pay more than £7k in fines and costs over organisational blue badge fraud

originally publish by localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk image by Jakub Pabis/unsplashimage by Jakub Pabis/unsplash A man has been convicted of fraud after misusing a blue badge and ordered to pay more than £7,000 in fines and costs following a prosecution by Reading Borough Council. Satbir Ahluwalia, 61, the Manager of a care home in Cressingham Road, Reading, was…

Fraudster used late mother’s Blue Badge to beat school run

AN Uxbridge mother was ordered to pay almost £3,000 after fraudulently using a Blue Badge to get a parking space during the school run. image by Jakub Pabis/unsplashimage by Jakub Pabis/unsplash Carly Kent, 43, of Chancel Close, was convicted of misuse of a disabled person’s badge during a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 20…

Disabled drivers wary of Blue Badge use after thefts

image by Jakub Pabis/unsplashimage by Jakub Pabis/unsplash Originally Publish By Sophie Wallace Mary had her Blue Badge stolen from her car and her experience is becoming more common. There were 1,484 Blue Badge thefts in the year to March 2022, up 41% from 1,055 the previous year, according to BBC analysis of the latest available…

Two County Durham drivers fined for mis-using Blue Badges after parking in disabled bays on the same street

Karen Summerbell and Jamie Leigh have been ordered to pay over £500 each after pleading guilty to mis-using a Blue Badge Originally Publish ByNicole Goodwin Durham Reporter image by Jakub Pabis/unsplashimage by Jakub Pabis/unsplash Two people have been fined for mis-using Blue Badges after parking in disabled bays on the same street. Durham County Council…

Woman ordered to pay more than £500 for parking in disabled bay with mum’s Blue Badge

Driver Karen Summerbell was caught out on Waldon Street in Hartlepool Originally Publish By Georgia Banks Breaking News Editor image by Jakub Pabis/unsplashimage by Jakub Pabis/unsplash Two drivers have been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds for misusing Blue Badges after parking in disabled bays on the same street. Durham County Council took legal action…

Pair’s £500-plus court bills for flouting Blue Badge regulations in Hartlepool

Two people have been fined for mis-using Blue Badges after parking in disabled bays in the same street.  Originally Publish By Gavin Ledwith Durham County Council says it took legal action against Karen Summerbell after a civil enforcement officer at Hartlepool Borough Council observed her parking in a disabled bay in Hartlepool’s Waldon Street.   The…

Almost 350 fraud cases solved by council in one year

originally publish by  Stewart McConnell, Local Democracy Reporter North Ayrshire received 357 referrals for investigation during 2022/23 compared to 284 in 2021/22. image by Jakub Pabis/unsplashimage by Jakub Pabis/unsplash Corporate fraud referrals in North Ayrshire rocketed by 25% in the past year, it has been revealed. All but nine of the referrals made to the…

Fraud against Blue Badges tackled with National Action Day

originally publish by Fraud against Blue Badges tackled with National Action Day Council parking officers and fraud investigators from Veritau – the organisation that investigates fraud on behalf of the council – worked together to check the use of Blue Badges across the city. On the day of action, 2 June 2023, 84 badges were…