COUNCILLORS are calling for criteria to be set out for the revoking of disabled parking badges, to clamp down on misuse.

Oxfordshire County Council’s audit and governance committee ran the rule over the Blue Badge Scheme Enforcement Strategy, which outlines potential sanctions for those caught flouting rules.

They include reminding the badge holder of their responsibilities, informing the person misusing the badge that they are committing offences, retaining the badge, refusing to renew or cancelling a blue badge, refusing an application, or issuing a formal caution and prosecution.

Misuse of a badge is a serious offence and can result in prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

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The report seeks to deliver a ‘proportionate but robust response’, particularly on the back of an increase in misuse in particular areas that was noted by council officer Lucie Maycock during the discussion.

She said: “During the Covid pandemic, we have seen a high rise in badges being used by non-badge holders, family members and friends.

“I don’t know what has triggered that but it is interesting to watch the pattern and the areas where it is happening as well.

“There does appear to be a slight pattern emerging so when we do a two-day exercise, we do need to hone in on those particular areas with the intelligence we are starting to gather from either anonymous reports or reports given to us by customers.”

Councillor Ian Middleton was among those concerned by the prospect of revoking badges.

“I am a little bit concerned we could end up depriving someone of a badge, essentially saying you will no longer have that accessibility,” he said.

“There does not seem to be any mention of the policy on that, what criteria we would apply to withdrawing permits or taking into account the circumstances of the person, or any rights to appeal.”

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Committee chair Roz Smith concurred, saying: “If there is a gap in policy from this council then we need to address it.”

Tessa Clayton, audit manager and counter fraud lead at the county council, replied: “This does not happen very frequently, we don’t really tend to remove badges.

“If that were to happen it would be for a very serious case where they had really overtly abused the system.

“It is not something that is going to happen because someone may have allowed someone else to use their badge on a one-off occasion.”