An individual has been fined over £1,000 for fraudulently using a Blue Badge parking permit as Hounslow Council looks to crack down on sharing. 

Hounslow Council are looking to clamp down on people sharing Blue Badge parking permits as a series of recent prosecutions have seen the council hand out harsh punishments to offenders, with one such incident involving someone using the Blue Badge belonging to a deceased person. 

Punishments for those caught sharing their badge with family or friends can be the temporary or permanent confiscation of the badge or a fine of up £1,000 plus costs. 

Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Parking, Parks and Leisure, said: "It saddens me to learn that this type of dishonest, shameful abuse is happening in our borough as it is genuine Blue Badge holders who suffer as a result of fraudulent use. 

"I am pleased that our officers are continuing to be vigilant with their Blue Badge checks and offenders are being brought to justice. 

"I wonder if these offenders realise that they took away a parking space from someone in genuine need. When Blue Badge holders cannot park close enough to where they need to go, they may end up abandoning their appointments or planned trips. 

"We will continue our routine checks and prosecute without exception. We have the means to check the validity of a Blue Badge instantly. 

"So, if you are misusing a Blue Badge, it is only a question of time before you are detected and prosecuted." 

According to data from the Department of Transport, London has the highest number of people prosecuted for the misuse of Blue Badges in England and so Hounslow Council are working in collaboration with other borough councils to reduce it.