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| Disabled car badge misuse tackled | Disabled car badge misuse tackled |
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| A £55m scheme to help stop the misuse of blue disabled parking badges in England has been announced. | A £55m scheme to help stop the misuse of blue disabled parking badges in England has been announced. |
| One in every 200 badges is stolen each year, and some London boroughs are dealing with hundreds of cases of stolen, forged or misused badges. | One in every 200 badges is stolen each year, and some London boroughs are dealing with hundreds of cases of stolen, forged or misused badges. |
| The government says it is looking to give councils new powers to confiscate stolen or forged badges. | The government says it is looking to give councils new powers to confiscate stolen or forged badges. |
| It is also extending the badge scheme to people with temporary mobility problems or mental health problems. | It is also extending the badge scheme to people with temporary mobility problems or mental health problems. |
| Others set to benefit are disabled armed forces personnel, who will be automatically entitled to a badge, and young children with disabilities. | |
| A £10m national data-sharing system will be established by councils to make sure stolen or forged badges from outside their areas can be detected. | A £10m national data-sharing system will be established by councils to make sure stolen or forged badges from outside their areas can be detected. |
| The Department for Transport is also looking at new ways to make the badges harder to forge, including barcodes that can be read through windscreens. | The Department for Transport is also looking at new ways to make the badges harder to forge, including barcodes that can be read through windscreens. |
| Problem 'rife' | Problem 'rife' |
| The badges, introduced 37 years ago, are held by about 2.3 million people in England and allow almost unhindered parking across Europe. | The badges, introduced 37 years ago, are held by about 2.3 million people in England and allow almost unhindered parking across Europe. |
| Use of one by an able-bodied person carries a fine of up to £1,000. | Use of one by an able-bodied person carries a fine of up to £1,000. |
| Despite the deterrent, councils say the problem of stolen and forged passes is now "rife" and they need tougher powers to question drivers and seize illegitimate permits. | Despite the deterrent, councils say the problem of stolen and forged passes is now "rife" and they need tougher powers to question drivers and seize illegitimate permits. |
| Mary Murphy, from Camden Council in north London, said fraud was a big problem and there were cases where badges had been photocopied or sold. | Mary Murphy, from Camden Council in north London, said fraud was a big problem and there were cases where badges had been photocopied or sold. |
| My car is an extension of my legs and without being able to park, it's virtually useless Celine Llewellyn Jones class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7679921.stm">Disabled badge 'is lifeline' | |
| "People are willing to buy them because obviously there's a saving if you use a blue badge and you don't have to pay for parking," she said. | "People are willing to buy them because obviously there's a saving if you use a blue badge and you don't have to pay for parking," she said. |
| There have been reports of badges being sold on the black market for up to £1,500. | There have been reports of badges being sold on the black market for up to £1,500. |
| Transport Minister Paul Clark said: "It is time to get tough and stop blue badge abuse and vehicle crime. | Transport Minister Paul Clark said: "It is time to get tough and stop blue badge abuse and vehicle crime. |
| "Alongside this we need to make sure everyone who needs a badge receives one." | "Alongside this we need to make sure everyone who needs a badge receives one." |
| Under the new scheme, the assessment for eligibility for a badge is to be standardised and carried out by dedicated medical assessors. | Under the new scheme, the assessment for eligibility for a badge is to be standardised and carried out by dedicated medical assessors. |
| Until now, GPs have authorised the issuing of badges but some say they would be happy for that responsibility to be taken out of their hands. | Until now, GPs have authorised the issuing of badges but some say they would be happy for that responsibility to be taken out of their hands. |
| Mr Clark told BBC Radio's Five Live it was important to make sure disabled parking spaces were available for people who genuinely needed them. | Mr Clark told BBC Radio's Five Live it was important to make sure disabled parking spaces were available for people who genuinely needed them. |
| Celine Llewellyn Jones has had her blue badge stolen twice, forcing her to use expensive taxis and rely on others to do her shopping until she received a replacement. | Celine Llewellyn Jones has had her blue badge stolen twice, forcing her to use expensive taxis and rely on others to do her shopping until she received a replacement. |
| "My car is an extension of my legs and without being able to park, it's virtually useless," she told BBC Radio's Five Live. | "My car is an extension of my legs and without being able to park, it's virtually useless," she told BBC Radio's Five Live. |
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| Are you a blue badge holder? Has yours ever been stolen? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you a blue badge holder? Has yours ever been stolen? Send us your experiences using the form below. |