TWENTY-ONE blue badges have been seized from people in Oxfordshire over the last week.

Disabled people are able to get to their destinations easier thanks to the blue badge scheme, but the county council is now cracking down on non-disabled people who are abusing the system such as by parking in disabled bays or on yellow lines.

Oxfordshire County Council, supported by Oxford City Council’s anti-fraud team and Cherwell District Council, took to the streets this week and checked 1,000 blue badges in the county including 600 in Oxford.

Twelve badges were seized in Oxford, either because they had expired or because they were used by relatives of the badge holder. Badges were also seized in Banbury and Henley.

Ben Simmons, senior investigations officer at the county council, said: “In order to really crack down on this we need to do regular checks as they act as a deterrent and make it more likely that badges will be seized. Automating the system so that people who have not renewed their badges will have letters sent to them as reminders, is also a good way to ensure they are not misused.”

The blue badge scheme allows disabled people to remain mobile and independent, enabling them to access supermarkets and services that many of us take for granted daily.

ALSO READ: Residents give back over 200 Blue Badges in amnesty

Those who wish to apply for a badge, which is assigned to a person, not their vehicle, must apply through the county council and meet strict conditions.

People with blue badges displayed can park on single and double yellow lines for up to three hours and time restricted and disabled bays in Oxford for an unlimited time.

Oxford Mail:

They are also rumoured to have been sold on the black market for prices as high as £5,000 where parking in places such as London are a premium.

Ed Turner, Oxford City Council’s board member for finance and asset management, said: “Those who misuse the badges may not think it is a big deal, but for those genuine badge holders who lose out on a parking space, it can be.

“I’m confident that this won’t be the last time that we do an operation like this.”

Misuse is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record.

Badge holders must also make sure they display their badge properly with the accompanying clock, as it is also an offence not to do so.

Yesterday, at the John Radcliffe Hospital, there were two badges displayed that had expired and one exceeding its expiry date.

WATCH AGAIN: County council cracks down on blue badge scheme

Oxford Mail:

Emma Lawson, 41, from Wantage, who parked her car at the hospital yesterday with her mum, who owns a blue badge, said: “It must be really challenging and a tough job to make sure that only authentic people who need the spaces are using the badges. Thankfully we have never been in a position where we’ve been delayed so we’re always lucky to be able to find a space and utilise the badge.”

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Over 200 blue badges that could no longer be used were handed back to the county council following an amnesty that ended last week.