A north London couple have been fined after fraudulently using a relative’s Blue Badge to park near Tottenham Hotspur’s ground while attending a football match.
The Haringey-based pair were caught using a Blue Badge belonging to the husband’s father-in-law, who was not present at the game.
The badge had been previously reported as lost when council officials discovered it being used in a vehicle parked in the vicinity of the stadium.
After discovering the fraudulent use, council officials removed the vehicle and issued a fine.
The couple were found to have fraudulently used a relative’s Blue Badge to park near the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
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The couple then attempted to evade consequences by providing false and misleading information to the council – which compounded their original offence of misusing the Blue Badge parking permit.
Both defendants appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court where they entered guilty pleas to all counts.
The husband received a fine of £212 for his role in the Blue Badge fraud, while his wife was ordered to pay £573.
Both of them now have criminal records.
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The husband received a fine of £212 for his role in the Blue Badge fraud, while his wife was ordered to pay £573
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Haringey councillor Seema Chandwani, who oversees the council’s Blue Badge department, condemned the misuse of the permits.
“Owners of Blue Badges deserve their entitled benefits, but these rights are unjustly stripped away when badges are stolen, preventing those in genuine need from accessing on-street parking where they need it most,” she said.
“Their independence is robbed and that is why we will continue to take enforcement action against those who break the law.”
She added: “As demonstrated in this case, legal action will be pursued, and consequences will follow.
“We are committed to minimising badge theft and implementing measures to prevent the misuse of Blue Badges.”
Last summer, the Metropolitan Police announced officers had recorded 6,415 Blue Badges as stolen over the prior 12 months.
Unmesh Desai, Labour’s London Assembly policing and crime spokesman, said at the time: “Blue Badge theft is not a victimless crime.
“Behind each of these numbers is a Londoner robbed of their ability to live and travel independently – and a criminal using their badge to avoid parking fines and effectively defraud taxpayers.”