A car was towed away and more than 30 people were fined as part of a crackdown in Nottingham on the misuse of blue badges.

Nottingham City Council officers took part in the National Blue Badge Day of Action 2025 on 30 May, which aims to raise public awareness about the effect it has on disabled people.

Close to 300 checks were carried out over the course of the day, which identified:

• Six invalid or expired blue badges, which were confiscated
• Six penalty charge notices (PCN) issued for misuse
• 25 additional PCNs issued for parking in a disabled bay without a valid badge
• One vehicle removed and impounded (pictured above)
• Two reports received from members of the public

While the council enforces the blue badge scheme on a daily basis, national campaign events provide an opportunity to highlight this important work across the city.

It allows officers to underline the authority’s commitment to tackling misuse of badges, as well as working with partner agencies and showing the public what the real-world impact is for disabled people.

The main aims were:

• Enforcement of misuse
• Public awareness of the consequences
• Support for genuine badge holders
• Collaboration with local and national partners

Across the whole of the 2024/25 financial year, a total of 681 cases of Department for Transport-defined blue badge misuse were recorded in Nottingham.

Of these, 201 badges were still being used having been cancelled, 334 had expired and 13 were fake. Additionally, 631 PCNs were issued, 19 vehicles were towed away and 560 motorists were questioned, of whom 18 were prosecuted, 210 received formal warnings and 77 cautions were issued.

Councillor Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport at Nottingham City Council, said: “I was very happy to be involved in this specific enforcement action. The misuse of blue badges directly undermines the whole purpose of the scheme, which is to support people with significant mobility impairments.

“When badges are used fraudulently or by those not entitled, it reduces the availability of accessible parking spaces for those who genuinely need them. This can lead to increased stress, reduced independence and missed appointments or opportunities for disabled people.

“Ensuring the integrity of the scheme is therefore not only a matter of enforcement but also of equity, accessibility and dignity for legitimate badge holders. We make no apology for holding those to account who misuse blue badges in our city.”

It is a criminal offence for anyone to use a badge they are not entitled to, and doing so could lead to a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the disc.

Anyone who suspects a blue badge is being misused can call 0115 876 1888, email [email protected] or report it here.