Taxi driver fined over repeated blue badge misuse

Mr Aqdus was caught misusing his disabled partner’s Blue Disability Badge by a Civil Enforcement Officer on 5 May 2017. He had parked his vehicle on double yellow lines outside a fast food takeaway shop on Southchurch Road, Southend-on-Sea where he displayed the badge on the dashboard.  

The incident was referred to the Council’s Counter Fraud and Investigation team, where they found this was not the first time Mr. Aqdus had been found misusing his partner’s Blue Disability Badge and that he had received a warning 4 months previously following a similar incident.  

Cllr Andrew Moring, Executive Councillor for Community and Corporate Support, says: “We are fully committed to assisting those entitled to Blue Badges but we also have a duty to protect - and take action against - the dishonest misuse of such badges. Where we have the evidence we will do exactly that.  

“In this case, we had warned Mr Aqdus following a similar incident only four months earlier.

If anyone has suspicions concerning similar Blue Badge misuse, or other types of Corporate fraud then please call the Counter-Fraud and Investigation Directorate direct on 0300 999 111 or e-mail counterfraud@southend.gov.uk.

All information received is treated in the strictest confidence.”   Fraud can range from council tax exemptions, sub-letting of council properties, property abandonment, single person’s council tax discounts, or procurement.

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