Six drivers have been found guilty at court after they were found illegally using Blue Badges on their vehicles by Barking and Dagenham Council enforcement officers.

Catching people who are misusing a Blue Badge has become a key priority for the council’s parking service and they now have a dedicated team totally focussing on this.

The team discovered six people misusing badges, which is a criminal offence, in Barking during routine inspections and all six of them had their vehicles removed by the council’s vehicle removal contractor.

Blue Badges help people with disabilities or health conditions to park closer to their destination - it’s despicable that people would be prepared to use stolen or fake Blue Badges to try and get around parking restrictions. They deserve to be named and shamed as well as ending up with a criminal record.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Blue Badges are specifically for people who need help due their disability or health conditions and enable them to park closer to their destination. It’s awful that some people think it is okay to use them for their own gain.

“This is certainly something that we won’t stand for in Barking and Dagenham and I’m pleased to see that all six people have been found guilty in court. I would like to thank the two parking enforcement officers and legal team for catching these people.”

All six were summoned to Barkingside Magistrates Court on Tuesday 11 October and were found guilty. Each person’s details and what they have been ordered to pay can be seen below:

1. Maximus Adeniyi – attended and not represented. Pleaded guilty. Sentenced to £130 fine, £34 Victim Surcharge and £295 costs to Barking and Dagenham Council.
2. Kelvin Adenyi – Did not attend and unrepresented. Application to prove in absence granted. Matter found proved. Sentenced to £440 fine, £44 Victim Surcharge and £315 costs to Barking and Dagenham Council.
3. Raissa Medina – attended and unrepresented. Pleaded guilty. Sentenced to £120 fine, £34 Victim Surcharge and £311 costs to Barking and Dagenham Council.
4. Tayba Cheema – Attended and unrepresented. Pleaded guilty. Sentenced to 12 month conditional discharge. £34 Victim Surcharge and £150 costs to Barking and Dagenham Council.
5. Fahad Nazar – attended and unrepresented. Pleaded guilty. Sentence to £120 fine, £34 Victim Surcharge and £311 costs to Barking and Dagenham Council.
6. Anthony Moir – did not attend and unrepresented. Applied to prove in absence. Matter found proved. Sentenced to £440 fine, £176 Victim Surcharge and £311 costs to Barking and Dagenham Council.

If residents are concerned that somebody is using a Blue Badge illegally, they can report it to the council online by emailing ParkingInvestigationTeam@lbbd.gov.uk.