News & Features
Interview with an Expert: Paul Slowey CEO of Blue Badge Fraud Investigation
Posted in General News on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025
In February we interviewed Paul Slowey the Chief Executive of Blue Badge Fraud Investigation (BBFI) and he provided some information on what the coming months hold for the organisation.
Q1 What do you view as BBFI’s main goal this year?
At the tail end of 2024, we started working more closely with MPs and members of the London Assembly to formulate a plan for change. I’m excited to continue that work this year, particularly with Unmesh Desai who is the London Assembly Labour lead on Policing and Crime, and Liam Conlon, the Labour MP for Beckenham and Penge, as well as developing new relationships. Together we’re stronger in this fight.
Q2 in December last year, a motion was passed to improve the policing of the Blue Badge scheme in London. Could you talk more about this motion and the current stage that it is at?
We’ve always known that change is going to need to come from the ground up as well as the top down. The motion in the London Assembly and the issue being raised by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons has really amplified the issue of the disabled community being victimised by callous criminals who target them to steal blue badges. The Prime Minister referring the MP Liam Conlon to the minister for local governments has further helped spur local authorities into action. We're certainly seeing more local authorities discussing the idea of blue badge fraud blue, badge abuse and how they can help the lives of disabled motorists. The next six months will be crucial in ensuring that translates into effective enforcement and the driving up of compliance.
We’ll be launching a campaign with DMUK where we ask you to write to your MP asking them to put pressure on the Chief Executive of your local authority to deliver action. We hope that by standing together this will help turn the campaign into clear deliverable benefits for disabled motorists on a day-to-day basis. Keep an eye out for more!
Q3 Given that the latest DfT Blue Badge statistics indicate a 10% rise in Blue Badges but no increase in accessible bays, what do you feel should be done to protect the integrity of the scheme?
The increase was entirely predictable. We're an ageing population, and as the population ages, it is predictable that the number of blue badges will increase. The slightly concerning thing from the DfT data, was that there was nothing on prosecutions or the enforcement of the scheme.
From the perspective of preventing fraud I'm less concerned by an increase in the number of badges than I am by the lack of enforcement by local authorities which desperately needs to be tackled. It's in the interest of every disabled person that the scheme is effectively enforced.
Q4 Could you tell us about a couple of things you are most proud of achieving through BBFI?
There are lots of things to be proud of, but I think the increase in compliance within the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest and Hammersmith has been astonishing. Through working in these areas regularly, enforcing the scheme and educating others we have changed driver behaviour, and helped the disabled residents in the area. I'm very proud of that and I’m hopeful other local authorities will sit up and take notice – change is possible.
We would like to thank Paul for taking the time to speak to us and for agreeing to this feature.
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Comments
Mrs Anne P Bowyer
Monday, March, 17th, 2025
I am annoyed that our local NEXT shop in County Oaks retail park has 1 disabled bay for parking yet 3 for parents and children, and no more. Yet you see children with parents that can run into the shop whilst they get the baby out if they have one.sometime all the children, can walk or run in, so why should they have more bays than a disabled one? Informed by the car park attendant that they are required to have at least 2 disabled bays. Wrote to their head office,,,, no reply. Zilch
P .MACHIN
Monday, March, 17th, 2025
Very good for the London based , of little interest to the rest of the country.
Mike Brown
Monday, March, 17th, 2025
Is anything happening outside London other than apathy, I have been abused for asking someone to move from a disabled bay so I could park. The local council said they do not take action about people parking in disabled bays because it is too difficult, even though I can provide photographic evidence, One in particular a laundry delivery van which changes the personnel inside it frequency during the dau but still use a blue badge. I would have thought someone who needs a blue badge would not be fit enough to carry large sacks of laundry!
Mike Brown
Monday, March, 17th, 2025
I am uncertain if this applies just to London or is it country wide. It certainly does not apply to my area who have told me it is too difficult to prosecute people parking in a blud badge zone (what few are left) without a badge. Even when I have supplied photographic evidence they will not do anything as they want the serial number off the badge and even then they would not do it because of the cost. There is a laundry van which uses one despite changing drivers regularly during the day. Perhaps as you say others should take notice but that would mean doing something for disabled people.
Yvonne
Monday, March, 17th, 2025
It is good that blue badges are being looked at. When people apply they are either not being truthful with how far they can walk as time and time again I see people jump out of their cars to go shopping. I also think that supermarkets should also make sure that the people who manage the car park should check that disabled spaces are not abused. Keep up the good work and I will certainly contact my MP.
Brian Haynes
Monday, March, 17th, 2025
Paul Slowey deserves a medal in recognition of the thankless task he has taken on and in some areas has acheived success. But he can't be everywhere and as you somedays search for a Disabled space and find that several bays have been occupied by vehicles with no blue badge or with just a timer displayed. It remains a major problem for disabled people caused by others who flaunt the law are so blase about it and have no quarms about looking you in the face as they walk by. As pointed out there is never anyone about to report it to, you can try to take them to task about it but you are met with either silence or abuse. Without numbers of people with the necessary authority to enforce this problem (which the Councils are unlikely to fork out for) it remains a difficult one to resolve.
MR ZAN MARSEILLES
Tuesday, March, 18th, 2025
Dear Mr Paul Slowey, until this morning reading the above Disabled Motoring article which sub highlights your fledgling company and it's truly remarkable and ground breaking discoveries, insights and actions, some positive but mostly negative and the more than welcome positive progress that both You and your company are making in the name of and for Disabled Individuals like myself, not just motorists, is truly exemplary and I thank you for your tenacity, insights and dedication to what until now has been a little understood and highlighted cause that affects Physically Disabled individuals like myself of all ages, all ethnicities, all sexes and all levels of physical disability. May your very much appreciated work, discoveries, actions and assistance for the Disabled Community, Borough Councils continue successfully as I trust your business will do also. Thank you Mr Paul Slowey.
Martin
Wednesday, March, 19th, 2025
I live in LBBD but closer to Romford town centre. The biggest issue I see is the misuse of badges by family or friends. Yes I know about hidden disabilities but it’s obvious by the info on the badge that a young person in their 20’s or 30’s are using a badge that is for someone in their 70’s or 80’s and a different sex. Traffic enforcement are always checking the disabled bays for a ‘valid badge’ but never if the badge is for the person using it. In 12yrs I have never once, anywhere in the country, ever been asked to have my badge looked at by anyone!