Published on
A Bromley resident has been convicted in court for fraudulently using a blue badge parking permit issued to her now deceased mother.
Ms Kay Susan Stocker of Blakeney Road, Beckenham, was sentenced at Bromley Magistrates Court on 11 January 2012 for using a disabled blue badge parking permit issued to her mother who had died in August 2010.
"It saddens me that we are witnessing people pick up easily avoidable convictions and criminal records for blue badge fraud. I only hope that this latest news sends an unmistakable message to those still abusing the system that their actions will not be tolerated. The council takes blue badge fraud and misuse extremely seriously and I would urge anyone cheating the system to think again, you may already be under investigation and by process of elimination will eventually be caught, named and shamed. If you suspect that a blue badge is being misused, I would encourage you to please report it to the council", said Councillor Colin Smith, Executive Councillor for Environment.
Suspicion was first aroused when the council's Parking Services Team were informed by traffic wardens that the badge was on a list of those known to belong to deceased persons. Ms Stocker also challenged the two penalty charge notices she had received. Having checked the serial number of the blue badge, it was confirmed it belonged to Ms Stocker's late mother, Mrs Nash. The case was then referred for further investigation to the Fraud Team at Greenwich Council, which resulted in a successful prosecution at Bromley Magistrates Court.
In a taped interview with fraud officers, Ms Stocker admitted that she had used the badge on two occasions. Bromley Magistrates accepted the guilty plea, by post, from Ms Stocker. She was fined a total of £181. She would have had to pay no more than 50 pence per hour to pay and display on either occasion.
Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence which can lead to a £1,000 fine. Common misuse includes badges being used by friends or relatives to park for free. Blue badge holders are reminded of their duty to use their badge according to scheme rules and never to allow other people to use it, even to run an errand on their behalf.
If you suspect a blue badge is being used fraudulently or for the benefit of anyone other than the holder, please call in confidence on 020 8313 4094 or report it online: www.bromley.gov.uk/report. For further information, visit www.bromley.gov.uk/parking.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- For media enquiries, contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor, on 020 8461 7670 or email andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk
