Hundreds of fraudulent Blue Badges revoked

More than 450 Blue Badges have been revoked in part of Merseyside after an investigation into fraud, including the use of some badges issued under the names of deceased people.

An operation between the Public Sector Fraud Authority and Wirral Council saw 459 unauthorised badges rescinded in Wirral between 2024 and 2025, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Blue Badges are issued by councils and give disabled people access to parking, and misusing them is a criminal offence.

Wirral Council leader Paula Basnett said: "The Blue Badge scheme is an important means of support for some of our most vulnerable residents, but sadly it seems has been become subject to an acceptable level of misuse across the country."

She continued: "Our response in Wirral has been to use all the tools at our disposal to conduct a proactive, intelligence-led operation, which is backed up with a stronger enforcement strategy.

"We have also been collaborating closely with our neighbouring council in Liverpool to support the management of formal prosecutions."

The Wirral operation saw council data cross-referenced with records held by the government's Department for Work and Pensions to compile a list of Wirral badges potentially being used fraudulently.

In the last two years, the estimated value of Blue Badges cancelled across the country was more than £34m - with the Wirral operation said to have saved more than £363,000 of public money.

Following the investigation, traffic wardens in Wirral will be conducting targeted patrols, including on roads near local schools, with the power to confiscate badges on the spot.

Drivers displaying badges belonging to deceased badge-holders could face formal warning letters and fines of up to £1,000.

Cabinet Office Minister Satvir Kaur said: "Blue Badges are a lifeline for disabled people. Every time a badge is misused, it unfairly deprives someone in genuine need when they need it most."

Kaur said the government fraud agency would be working closely with Wirral Council to "ensure those in need are properly supported and taxpayer money is protected".

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