Blue badge trio fines

Monday November 16, 2009

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is raising the stakes in the battle against blue badge fraud.

Three con artists have been slapped with hefty fines after the council caught them impersonating disabled people in bungled attempts to get free parking.

Michael Downey, Shofiqur Rahman and Faisal Kaleem were all convicted of separate counts of misusing blue badges, which are designed to allow disabled people to get a free space, at West London Magistrates Court last month.

The selfish trio were taken before magistrates after a joint operation, between council and police officers, scoured the borough’s streets to uncover the dodgy blue badges.

Cllr Nicholas Botterill, Cabinet Member for Environment, says: “Our disabled residents need blue badge parking to allow them to get out and about. Yet some selfish individuals – like these three – are trying to fiddle the system to get free parking.”

Michael Downey of Devonport Road, in Shepherds Bush, was found guilty of using a fake disabled persons badge on two occasions. He was ordered to pay a total of £994. Shofiqur Rahman of Harford House, in Westbourne Park, was found guilty of illegally using a lost badge and now has to pay £844 for his trouble.

Eugenia Bertin runs a campaign against blue badge theft and misuse. Eugenia’s van has been broken into three times and her blue badge stolen. Eugenia said, “When my blue badge was stolen it stopped me doing my socialising and my music. I couldn't go where I normally go.”

Amanda Roles, from Hammersmith & Fulham Mencap, added: “Many physically and learning disabled people and parents of disabled children get angry to see someone misusing a blue badge or parking illegally in a space reserved for disabled people.

“It is extremely selfish and inconsiderate, non disabled people don't realise how doing everyday normal tasks are so much harder for someone with a disability. “

In a third case triggered by the council’s clampdown, Faisal Kaleem – of  Solent Court, in Norbury – was found guilty of using a stolen disabled persons badge and fined £350 and costs of £579 and a £15 victim surcharge.

Cllr Botterill, added: “This latest round of convictions proves the council’s determination to stamp out this underhand practice. We are pursuing the fraudsters all the way to the courts and in the process reclaiming parking spaces for the disabled people who genuinely need them.”