Man prosecuted for the "mean" crime of Blue Badge Fraud
Today on Tuesday 2 March, Mr Oliur Rahman (27), Mapledene Estate, Mapeldene Road, pleaded guilty to three charges of misusing a Disabled Blue Badge at Thames Magistrates Court in Bow, following proceedings brought by Hackney Council.
Mr Rahman was found guilty and given a conditional discharge for three years for each offence, which the District Judge described as a "mean" crime, depriving disabled people of the chance to take up parking spaces reserved for them. Mr Rahman was also ordered to pay Hackney Council s court costs of £1,324.
This prosecution follows on from the successful prosecution of three people for Blue Badge Fraud on 20 January 2010.* These prosecutions were made by the Council following the establishment of a specific anti-fraud team to crack down on those who abuse the Blue Badge disabled parking scheme.
Cllr Alan Laing, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Abusing a disabled person’s concessions is disgraceful. It can mean that those with limited mobility lose the chance to park in places where they can reach shops and post offices, chemists and leisure facilities – the amenities that can help them to stay active and independent. The council’s dedicated team of Blue Badge fraud investigators will continue to operate using intelligence to look into all suspicions of the misuse of these badges.”
Hackney Council is engaged in an ongoing drive to eradicate Blue Badge misuse in the borough. Before 2005, 60 per cent of car break-ins in Hackney were to steal Blue Badges. This has dropped dramatically since the Council introduced Companion Badges, which are specific to one vehicle, so pose little incentive to thieves.
To find out about the rules of Blue Badge use; or to report suspicions of fraud, contact the Blue Badge Hotline: 020 8356 8866 or email: bluebadgefraud@hackney.gov.uk
Mr Rahman was found guilty and given a conditional discharge for three years for each offence, which the District Judge described as a "mean" crime, depriving disabled people of the chance to take up parking spaces reserved for them. Mr Rahman was also ordered to pay Hackney Council s court costs of £1,324.
This prosecution follows on from the successful prosecution of three people for Blue Badge Fraud on 20 January 2010.* These prosecutions were made by the Council following the establishment of a specific anti-fraud team to crack down on those who abuse the Blue Badge disabled parking scheme.
Cllr Alan Laing, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Abusing a disabled person’s concessions is disgraceful. It can mean that those with limited mobility lose the chance to park in places where they can reach shops and post offices, chemists and leisure facilities – the amenities that can help them to stay active and independent. The council’s dedicated team of Blue Badge fraud investigators will continue to operate using intelligence to look into all suspicions of the misuse of these badges.”
Hackney Council is engaged in an ongoing drive to eradicate Blue Badge misuse in the borough. Before 2005, 60 per cent of car break-ins in Hackney were to steal Blue Badges. This has dropped dramatically since the Council introduced Companion Badges, which are specific to one vehicle, so pose little incentive to thieves.
To find out about the rules of Blue Badge use; or to report suspicions of fraud, contact the Blue Badge Hotline: 020 8356 8866 or email: bluebadgefraud@hackney.gov.uk