An on street enforcement exercise by the council’s counter fraud team led to another person appearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last week.

On Friday 12 December, Mayowa Oyeleke, 23, of Belhouse Avenue, South Ockendon, admitted illegally using a blue badge to park on Albion Place in Oxford city centre on 24 April 2025. 

The counter fraud team established that the badge he was using had been reported stolen from a vehicle in London.   

In passing sentence, the magistrate described it as “a distasteful offence” and fined Mr Oyeleke £140 plus a victim surcharge of £56. He awarded the council its full costs of £1,165.

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, said: “People who abuse the blue badge system deny vital parking spaces to people who rely on it to help them remain mobile and independent.

“This council will continue to take enforcement action to stop those misusing this service so that people with valid blue badges can access goods and services and park near workplaces, supermarkets and health facilities.”

Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. A penalty charge notice will normally be issued to anyone misusing a disabled parking bay.

As well as removing blue badges from people who are misusing and abusing the scheme, enforcement is used to raise awareness of the importance of the badges for residents who really need them.

Inappropriate use of limited disabled parking bays can result in blue badge holders missing medical appointments, not being able to get out to buy food or get to work.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

An on-street enforcement exercise by Oxfordshire County Council’s counter fraud team led another person appearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last week.

On Friday 28 November, Jessica Holdsworth, 34, of Barbour Road, Abingdon, admitted illegally using a blue badge to park outside Templars Square in Cowley.

Miss Holdsworth used a blue badge to park on 15 January 2025. The council’s fraud team established during an interview under caution that the badge she was using had belonged to her grandmother who had died.  

She was fined £307 plus a victim surcharge of £123 and the council was awarded costs of £911.

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, said: “The blue badge system is there for people who rely on it to help them remain mobile and independent. Those who abuse it deny vital parking spaces to people who really need them the most.

“Valid blue badges enable people to access goods and services and park near workplaces, supermarkets and health facilities. That is why we, as a council, will continue to take enforcement action to stop those misusing this service.”

The latest case follows the prosecutions of five people in September, December 2024 and January 2024 for similar offences.

Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. A penalty charge notice will normally be issued to anyone misusing a disabled parking bay.

As well as removing blue badges from people who are misusing and abusing the scheme, enforcement is used to raise awareness of the importance of the badges for residents who really need them.

Inappropriate use of limited disabled parking bays can result in blue badge holders missing medical appointments, not being able to get out to buy food or get to work.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

An on street enforcement exercise by Oxfordshire County Council’s counter fraud team led to two people appearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last week.

On Friday 19 September, Azeem Ansari, 44, of Kennington Road, Oxford, and Lauren Bell, 38, of Poplar Close, Garsington, admitted illegally using blue badges to park in Oxford city centre.

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Transformation, said: “The blue badge system is there for people who rely on it to help them remain mobile and independent. Those who abuse it deny vital parking spaces to people who really need them the most.

“Valid blue badges enable people to access goods and services and park near workplaces, supermarkets and health facilities. That is why we, as a council, will continue to take enforcement action to stop those misusing this service.”

Mr Ansari used a blue badge to park on 20 January 2025. The council’s fraud team established that Mr Ansari was using a badge that had been cancelled as its owner, Mr Ansari’s grandmother, had died. 

In summing up, the district judge said that while he accepted Mr Ansari did not wake up that day intending to defraud, he did make a conscious decision and thought he was going to get away with it but, unfortunately for him, he didn’t.

He was fined £576 plus a victim surcharge of £230.40 and the council was awarded costs of £1,787.50.

Ms Bell admitted illegally using a blue badge to park on 20 January 2025. The council’s fraud team established that the badge she was displaying in her vehicle had been cancelled as it had been reported as lost by its owner. 

She was fined £400 plus a victim surcharge of £160 and the council was awarded costs of £500.

A third case was adjourned until November.

The latest cases follow the prosecutions of three men in December and January for similar offences.

Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. A penalty charge notice will normally be issued to anyone misusing a disabled parking bay.

As well as removing blue badges from people who are misusing and abusing the scheme, enforcement is used to raise awareness of the importance of the badges for residents who really need them.

Inappropriate use of limited disabled parking bays can result in blue badge holders missing medical appointments, not being able to get out to buy food, or get to work.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

At Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 January, Ahmad Horik, 23, of Blenheim Court, Kidlington, admitted illegally using a blue badge to park in Oxford city centre on 21 May 2024.

When officers from Oxfordshire County Council Council’s counter fraud team checked the badge, they established it was not valid as it had been reported lost and a replacement issued. 

When interviewed under caution by council officers, Mr Horik said the badge belonged to a family member and he had no knowledge why it had been reported lost and replaced.

As the badge holder was not present when he parked, there was no entitlement to any blue badge concession. 

Mr Horik was fined £209, ordered to pay a court charge of £84 and pay the council’s costs of £500.

The case follows the prosecution of two men for similar offences in December 2024 as part of the same on-street enforcement exercise.

Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. A penalty charge notice will normally be issued to anyone misusing a disabled parking bay.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “People rely on their blue badges so that they can park near workplaces, supermarkets, and health facilities. Illegal use of the scheme denies a space to someone who really needs it.

“It is not acceptable to misuse this service and the recent enforcement operation shows that this council is taking action to stop this abuse.”

As well as removing blue badges from people who are misusing and abusing the scheme, enforcement is used to raise awareness of the importance of the badges for residents who really need them.

Many people rely on their blue badge to remain mobile and independent, enabling them to access goods and services.

Inappropriate use of disabled parking bays can result in blue badge holders missing medical appointments, not being able to get out to buy food, or get to work.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

An on-street enforcement exercise by Oxfordshire County Council’s counter fraud team led to two men appearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court last week. It follows the prosecution of a woman in Oxford in May for a similar offence.

On Friday 13 December, Andrew Gill, 34, of Overdale Close, Oxford, and Johnis Lleshi, 21, of Overmead Green, Oxford, admitted illegally using blue badges to park in Oxford city centre.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, said: “People rely on their blue badges so that they can park near workplaces, supermarkets, and health facilities. Illegal use of the scheme denies a space to someone who really needs it.

“It is not acceptable to misuse this service and the recent enforcement operation shows that this council is taking action to stop this abuse.”

Mr Gill used a blue badge to park on 21 May 2024. The council’s fraud team established that Mr Gill was using a badge that had been cancelled as its owner, Mr Gill’s mother, had died three years earlier. 

He was fined £134 plus a court charge of £54 and the council was awarded costs of £350.

Mr Lleshi was found guilty of illegally using a blue badge to park on 19 June 2024 and for failing to present it for inspection when requested to do so.  

When later interviewed under caution he admitted buying the badge from the social media platform Snapchat.

He was fined £153 plus a court charge of £61 and the council was awarded costs of £350.

A further case was adjourned until the new year.

Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. A penalty charge notice will normally be issued to anyone misusing a disabled parking bay.

As well as removing blue badges from people who are misusing and abusing the scheme, enforcement is used to raise awareness of the importance of the badges for residents who really need them.

Many people rely on their blue badge to remain mobile and independent, enabling them to access goods and services.

Inappropriate use of limited disabled parking bays can result in blue badge holders missing medical appointments, not being able to get out to buy food, or get to work.

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

In a hearing at Oxford Magistrates Court on 31 May, Tasnim Al-Samad of Westminster Way, Botley near Oxford, was found guilty of illegally using a blue badge to park in Oxford city centre on the 26 September 2023.

When officers from Oxfordshire County Council Council’s Counter Fraud Team checked the badge, they established that it had been reported stolen from the London Borough of Hillingdon and seized it.

Ms Al-Samad claimed that the badge belonged to her friend who had been with her when she parked. When later interviewed under caution she admitted to having bought the badge from the social media platform ‘Snapchat’ and that no one was with her when she parked.

Ms Al-Samad was fined £300 plus a court charge of £120 and the county council was awarded costs of £350.

Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence and can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. A penalty charge notice will normally be issued to anyone misusing a disabled parking bay.

Mark Haynes, Director of Customer and Culture at Oxfordshire County Council which includes the blue badge service, said: “People rely on their blue badges so that they can park near workplaces, supermarkets, and health facilities. Illegal use of the scheme denies a space to someone who really needs it.

“It is particularly concerning that this conviction involves the display of a stolen badge. It is not acceptable to misuse this service and the recent enforcement operation shows that this council is taking action to stop this abuse.”

Why blue badges are important

As well as removing blue badges from people who are misusing and abusing the scheme, enforcement is used to raise awareness of the importance of the badges for residents who really need them.

Many people rely on their blue badge to remain mobile and independent, enabling them to access goods and services.

Inappropriate use of disabled parking bays can result in blue badge holders missing medical appointments, not being able to get out to buy food, or get to work. Every space really does matter.

For further information about the blue badge scheme, including how to apply using the county council’s new application service, visit the website: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/disabledparking

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council is continuing its tough stance against bogus use of Blue Badges. It is introducing a temporary amnesty – between 11 and 22 February – to allow people to hand-in badges they’re not entitled to – No questions asked.

But, the council has warned there will be tough action, following the amnesty, against anyone continuing to abuse the scheme.

The Blue Badges could have expired, belong to another person or no longer be necessary. Motorists can hand them in at County Hall, or at any library around the county, or send them to: Blue Badge Service, PO Box 873, Oxford, OX1 9NY.

County Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, which also includes Customer Services, said: “The Blue Badge Service is a lifeline for many disabled people who cannot travel far from their vehicle. However, the system is sometimes sadly abused by a minority, which affects those who rely on it. We would like to give the opportunity to people who may be misusing Blue Badges to dispose of them and avoid the risk of prosecution.”

Oxfordshire County Council provides services that enhance the quality of life in our communities and protect the local environment.

Over 21,000 citizens in Oxfordshire have a Blue Badge issued by the county council. This service is highly valued by people who struggle with mobility. It is designed to help them remain independent and reduce loneliness.

The badge holder can use it whenever they travel as a driver or a passenger. However, the Blue Badge should never be used by anyone else if the badge holder is not present on the journey.

Busting Blue Badge abuse

Councillor Judith Heathcoat added: “Whilst the national performance is mixed, Oxfordshire has a very strong track record of taking Blue Badge enforcement seriously.

“Where the scheme is misused or abused, we will take a strong stance to ensure only those who need, and qualify for a Blue Badge benefit from it. If people are misusing or abusing the scheme, the council takes appropriate action to protect genuine badge holders against fraud.

“Misusing a Blue Badge is a serious offence that can result in removal of the badge, a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record. We will not stand for the abuse of this scheme. I would like to remind anyone misusing a Blue Badge that we carry out regular enforcement campaigns.”

Last year, 650 Blue Badges were checked and 18 removed. 2,157 Penalty Charge Notices were issued to people parked in a disabled bay without a Blue Badge during these enforcement operations.

For further information about the Blue Badge scheme, including how to apply online, visit the website:

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/disabledparking