Tackling Blue Badge misuse: Detect, Enforce & Educate Yvonne Harvey

Why tackle misuse of Blue Badge? It is estimated that 20% of Blue Badges are misused. Free up spaces for the genuinely disabled Manage offenders in a proportionate and cost effective way To protect public funds

I use it for access to treatments, such as physiotherapy, to help me with my disability and improve mobility. I can’t function without it. I would also be unable to attend GP appointments or the dentist without the blue badge. I cannot use public transport, as my wheelchair is too big for the bus and taxis. Access to treatments is essential, and the impact on my health if I cannot attend is devastating. participation in normal family life is also possible with a blue badge, such as going to parks, getting to school, as well as after- school activities. I take my children, who are heavily disabled, to playgroup. Without it we would not be able to get close enough to the door to cross the car park, so would be unable to attend the cost of taxis into town can be huge. From a financial aspect, as the bus stops are too far and are too dangerous to travel on alone, I would not be able to leave my house without a blue badge. Taxi vouchers are available, but you only get a very minimal amount per year, which wouldn’t even cover one week’s travel for me I cannot use the bus on my own so I would not be able to work. I would have to retire if I had no blue badge.

Joint partnership working between Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, and Sussex Police Enhancing detection leading to better intelligence on offenders Dedicated two Blue Badge Fraud Investigation Officers Share information £183,000 over a two year period. The Counter Fraud Bid

£13,000,000 £1,300,000 The Audit Commission values a Blue Badge up to £5000 over a 3 year period. We have put a more conservative value of £500 per badge over a 3 year period

Community Resolution Community Resolution is a way of dealing with low level crime which is uncontested and not in the public interest to prosecute Aimed at educating the opportunist offender.

Insert video here please

Disposal typeNumber of offender since January 2015 Prosecutions58 Community Resolution156 Formal Warning40 No further action23 Still under investigation52 Number of badges since January 2015 Seized on street435 Handed in during 2 week amnesty 78 What has happened so far…

Increase in parking income Support from our entitled blue badge holders 1 reoffender On street awareness Recognition through 2 national awards Community buy in How have we measured our success?