By Adam Morris
The number of people caught using a blue badge belonging to a dead person has doubled in the last year, it has been revealed.
Local authorities reported 42 incidents across the country where people were caught fraudulently using the disabled parking pass in 2025.
That compares to 22 the previous year, and represents at least a five-year high for the problem.
Disability charities reacted furiously to the increase, pointing out fraudulent blue badge use had a serious impact on legitimate users.
Councils said they are “proactively” addressing the problem, but added some cases could have a been a genuine mistake on the part of the motorist.
“Blue badges, and the parking spaces reserved for their legitimate holders, are essential for disabled people’s independent living,” said a spokesperson for Inclusion Scotland.
“Any misuse of the blue badge scheme is more than fraud. It takes away disabled people’s rights to fully participate in their communities.”
Motorists in Glasgow account for the most incidents, with the city council registering 77 of the 124 instances since 2021.
“Any misuse of the blue badge scheme is more than fraud”
Inclusion Scotland
Local authorities in Dundee and Inverclyde also featured high up the list, with the latter recording seven cases in the last five years.
A spokesperson for Inverclyde Council said: “We have robust procedures in place to deal with blue badge misuse and we are very proactive in dealing with the issue.
“Blue badge misuse is ultimately fraud and appropriate action will be taken against anyone caught deliberately abusing the system.”
But they added: “There are also instances where a genuine mistake has been made, so it is a good opportunity to highlight that badges should be returned to us when a badge holder sadly passes away.”
Most cases of misuse initially result in the confiscation of the badge, but contraventions can lead to fines ranging from £1,000 to £2,500.
In the case of someone producing cloned or fake badges, criminal proceedings can be initiated.
Inclusion Scotland said those using a blue badge belonging to a dead person were no better than able-bodied drivers who park in disabled spaces, a problem they experience as “an everyday occurrence”.
They added: “This is far more than an inconvenience.
“It prevents disabled people from accessing health services, shops and education, causes missed appointments and trains, and can result in pain and worsening conditions when people are forced to park further away and navigate narrow or inaccessible spaces.”
Number of people detected using a blue badge of a deceased person
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | 8 |
| 2021/22 | 27 |
| 2022/23 | 25 |
| 2023/24 | 22 |
| 2024/25 | 42 |
| 5 year total | 124 |