In separate prosecutions by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, two women have been prosecuted for misusing Blue Badge parking permits issued to disabled family members.

Using badges belonging to family members

Ms Vi-Yen Tang, from Erith, was sentenced at Bexley Magistrates Court on 13 March after pleading guilty to using her uncle's Blue Badge parking permit which had been reported stolen.

Royal Borough investigators spotted Ms Tang's boyfriend's car displaying the Blue Badge on four separate occasions whilst she was in Greenwich town centre. They conducted an early morning visit to Ms Tang's boyfriend's address, where she had been staying, to retrieve the badge. Ms Tang attended an interview under caution with Royal Borough investigators where she admitted misusing her uncle's badge whilst working in Greenwich, but was adamant that she was not aware that it had been reported stolen.

Ms Tang subsequently pleaded guilty by post to four charges under Section 117(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. On 13 March 2017, Ms Tang (33) of Bronte Close, Erith was sentenced - she received a fine of £260 and ordered to pay costs of £85 with a £30 Victim Surcharge.

In another successful prosecution on the same day at Bexley Magistrates Court, a woman plead guilty to misusing her grandmother's Blue Badge to park her vehicle in a disabled parking bay in Wrottesley Road, Plumstead. Ms Hena Khurrum was ordered to pay a fine of £124, a Victim Surcharge of £15 and pay the Royal Borough's legal costs of £455.

'Our on-going commitment to prevent and detect fraud'

Councillor Maureen O'Mara, Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Anti-Fraud, said: "As part of our on-going commitment to prevent and detect fraud the Royal Borough is taking rigorous action over Blue Badge misuse. This is good news for all genuine Blue Badge holders who so often are inconvenienced by other car drivers who take up valuable parking spaces whilst misusing Blue Badges they have no right to use."