Rogue fake disabled badge seller caught red-handed on camera by undercover probe

The sickening rogue sale of fake disabled badges can today be exposed by an undercover Mirror probe.

Nearly three million people rely on blue badges to help park but we can reveal knock-offs are being touted online. One peddler was caught on camera boasting he has a warehouse-full of badges — even offering a bulk-buy discount. He was secretly filmed outlining how to get away with using the £150 badge, crowing: “This 100% works.”

And when we asked what would happen if a genuinely disabled person arrived to park, he said coldly: “You got there first. It’s first come, first serve, always.” The seller claimed the badge was real but an expert told us it was actually a high-quality forgery.

• Ambulance worker 'steals aftershave from pensioner's home' during 999 call
• Prince William shows true colours over Prince Harry after warning of major change

Disability Motoring UK praised the Mirror’s probe – saying it hoped the seller faced prosecution. “The actions of the individual selling fake Blue Badges is despicable and his behaviour reprehensible,” the charity said. “People using stolen, fake or a deceased person's Blue Badge are undermining the integrity of the… scheme and making life for genuine… holders so much more difficult. They are depriving… holders of the ability to find accessible parking near to their destination and there is currently not enough disabled parking provision as it is, without the added pressure of people using fake Blue Badges on top of that.

“For many disabled motorists, if they cannot find accessible parking when they get to their destination, they have no choice other than to return home. For many disabled people, their car and their Blue Badge is their lifeline; it gives them independent mobility and helps them to stay engaged with their communities, find employment and socialise.”

And Paul Slowey, director of the Blue Badge Fraud investigation [BBFi] agency which works with local authorities, warned: “Buying one of these badges is not just about getting free parking. You are depriving a disabled person from parking and undermining the credibility of the blue badge scheme.”

It is against the law to sell a disabled badge or to fake one. Mr Slowey, who said the badge was fake, explained the seller could face prosecution under the Fraud Act for his actions offering the forgery. He told us: “I believe that he has offered to supply [a]... false document and that a prima facie case has been made for an investigation… to be carried out by the Local Authority or Police under the Fraud Act.”

Mr Slowey added: “There are hundreds if not thousands of these badges in use. The badge is a high quality forgery... they have forged the hologram. To the untrained eye this would look like a genuine badge… The only people who would spot this as being fake are blue badge fraud investigators. If someone buys one of these badges and uses it in a Borough in which BBFi work the car will be removed and impounded, the badge will be seized under the police and criminal Evidence Act and the driver interviewed under caution. A criminal case will be prepared for criminal prosecution, passed to the local authority who will review what action to take but the driver could be convicted of fraud and given community service order as well as a fine. We seize about 30 of these fakes a month and have done for about 18 months.”

There were 2.84million Blue Badges held in England as of the end of March last year. The badges, which cost up to £10 and usually last up to three years, help those with disabilities or health conditions park closer to destinations. But Blue badge thefts have nearly quadrupled in only a decade in London. Over 36,000 thefts have been reported from 2015 until November last year, Metropolitan Police figures show.

We launched our undercover probe after being tipped off to Facebook adverts offering badges. One advert, showing a picture of an unidentified smiling woman holding up a badge, boasted same-day delivery for £150. Posing as a buyer, we contacted the seller and were invited to message on WhatsApp where we arranged a meet-up this week at a McDonald’s near Wembley Stadium, in London.

There our reporter spoke to a man who claimed to be a 22-year-old recent university graduate selling the badges as a “side-hustle”. “Just leave it upwards like this and then you should be good to go, to park anywhere you want,” he brazenly said. When we enquired who the named and pictured man was on the back of the badge, which carried Kent Council Council’s name as the issuing authority, the seller said: “It's just a profile.” He then pointed at the hologram, saying: “Can you see the way it’s shining? That’s how you know it’s real.”

The seller then gave our reporter an explanation of how to display the badge, boasting: “You won’t get a ticket.” Questioned on how long he had been selling the badges, the seller explained: “I would say around like six, seven months now.” Asked what price he would sell 10 badges for, the seller got out his phone calculator. “I’ll do you a deal, of course. I won’t charge you £150 all the way,” he promised. He suggested a price of £1,200 for the batch before quickly cutting the price to £1,150. He later dropped the price to £1,100.

The seller boasted he could easily get them, adding: “I have a warehouse filled with them… literally.” But when we queried how he got them, he said: “If I told you that you wouldn’t wanna come to me then…” He sought to ease the undercover reporter’s nerves, saying: “The ticket inspector will literally see this and they’ll just carry on walking past your car, honestly, honestly. I’ve seen it with my two eyes, I use them for my own car. If this wasn’t working then I wouldn’t give it to people because they’ll end up getting unlimited tickets.”

When our reporter queried what he should do if someone said he was not disabled, the seller said: “They can’t say nothing to you.” He added: “You can have someone in the car, that is usually in the car, that has like disability [sic], you have to take them somewhere.” Asked what happens if someone arrives to park who is genuinely disabled, the seller said: “They see your badge. You got there first. It’s first come, first serve, always. Even me, sometimes I park in the disabled… [bay] and I don’t even have my badge. I’m just lazy.”

We did not buy the badge. When our reporter confronted the seller over the phone and told him he was actually a journalist, he was left gobsmacked, saying: “What?” He added: “Am I going to be on the article?” When informed we intended to publish undercover footage, he replied: “Oh my God, are you joking? I wouldn’t want my face out there, though.” Pointed out he should not be selling fake disabled badges, he said: “There’s no way you’ve recorded me, mate.” Pressed on it being wrong to sell fake badges, the seller said: “It’s not fake… OK, OK mate.” We informed him an expert had confirmed it was a forgery. Told it was against the law to sell a disabled badge or fake one, he said: “I’m going to have to terminate this call…”

Facebook removed the ad after we alerted the social media giant. Diane Morton, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care for Kent County Council, said: "I was shocked to hear that a fake blue badge featuring KCC's name and logo was fraudulently manufactured and offered for sale illegally on the black market… We welcome all counter fraud work that helps clamp down on this criminal activity, including this investigation carried out by the Sunday Mirror. We will continue to work with our Counter Fraud teams, and other law enforcement agencies to uphold the highest standards for our Blue Badge scheme."

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Brent Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement, said: "This is an utterly reprehensible act, and findings of this investigation are deeply troubling… Our teams will be working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service and Kent County Council to investigate this matter further. My hope is that this offender is brought to justice as swiftly as possible. Brent Council will always take robust legal action against blue badge fraud or misuse where we have evidence, because protecting disabled residents’ rights to access is non-negotiable to us."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Exploitation and abuse of the Blue Badge scheme is completely unacceptable – it is an essential resource that helps many people with disabilities or health conditions travel with confidence, enabling them to park closer to their destination. We are supporting the police in tackling this issue by working closely with local authorities, who have strengthened powers to help them tackle fraud and misuse in their area.”