🚨Crime Alert 🚓 Blue Badge Theft 🚗

Dear Resident

Please be aware there has been recent reported incidents of Blue Badge Theft from Motor Vehicles in your area.

If you have a Blue Badge, we would like to offer you some advice on how to keep it safe.

Do Not Leave it on Display: The most effective prevention is to only display your badge when required by parking regulations. When parked in private car parks, driveways, or overnight at home, store the badge out of sight or remove it from the vehicle entirely.

Use Anti-Theft Devices: Consider a lockable protector or a steering-wheel-secured metal case. These act as visible deterrents and make it significantly harder for opportunistic thieves to quickly grab the badge. You can find Anti-Theft devices through retailers like as Halfords.

Digital Schemes: Some councils, such as Hammersmith and Fulham, have introduced digital Blue Badge parking permits for local parking zones. These schemes link the badge to a vehicle's registration number, removing the need to display a physical badge and eliminating the risk of theft in those specific areas. Check with your local council to see if a similar option is available.

Improve Car Security: Parking in well-lit areas, installing a car alarm, or using a dash cam with parking mode can also help deter thieves

If your Blue Badge is stolen, you must take the following steps:

Report to the Police: Immediately report the theft to the police to get a crime reference number. This number is often required for the replacement process and may exempt you from the replacement fee.

Report to Your Local Council: Contact your local authority as soon as possible to report the badge as stolen. The council will cancel the badge on the national database, which prevents thieves from using it legitimately and aids enforcement officers in confiscating it if found.

Request a Replacement: You can apply for a replacement through your local council or via the GOV.UK website. A replacement badge will be valid until the original badge's expiry date. If your badge is due to expire in less than three months, you may need to reapply for a completely new one instead.