BRADFORD District is in the top ten in a national league table for the number of prosecutions for Blue Badge misuse, it has been revealed.

Bradford Council prosecuted in 26 cases in 2014/15, administered 42 formal cautions and issued 149 warning letters for the misuse and abuse of Blue Badges in the district, resulting in it being placed ninth in the country.

The most common type of misuse/abuse is by a family member using it for their own purposes when the badge holder is, for example, in school, at home or in hospital. Additionally, the council encounters badges of deceased people being used.

The council’s corporate fraud unit, working with council wardens, regularly undertake drives to target Blue Badge abuse across the district.

Council leader, Cllr David Green, said: "We take Blue Badge misuse very seriously and will always pursue and take action against those who commit such abuse.

"People need to realise Blue Badges are there to help disabled people, who need them to park nearer to where they are going, and are not for people who are too lazy to walk.”

Steve Grisag, inclusion and mobility officer at Bradford Council, said: "This is excellent news for disabled people, who rely on their Blue Badge to go about their day to day lives.”

Visit bradford.gov.uk or call 01274 437511 to report Blue Badge misuse.