Fines Issued for Blue Badge Offences Surge
Ealing Borough gets tough on misuse of disabled bays
A disabled bay parking sign
October 9, 2025
New figures reveal that 9,072 fines were issued in Ealing Borough between 2019 and 2024 for drivers parking in disabled bays without a valid Blue Badge with a sharp surge in the most recent year. The data, obtained via a Freedom of Information request by vehicle retailer Evans Halshaw, highlights a growing trend in enforcement and a persistent issue affecting accessibility across the borough.
The number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by Ealing Council rose significantly in 2024, with 2,641 fines recorded—an increase of 76.8% compared to the previous year. This marks the highest annual total in the six-year period. The lowest figure was in 2020, when 1,028 fines were issued, likely reflecting reduced traffic during pandemic restrictions.
The data also identified key locations where violations with Townsend Road in Southall coming top with 666 fines followed by Acton Lane in W3 with 602 and High Street, Ealing on 375.
Council records show that 788 repeat offenders were issued multiple PCNs for this offence.
Julie Wallman, Divisional Marketing Director at Evans Halshaw, said, “Disabled parking bays exist to ensure safe and accessible travel for people with limited mobility… These figures show just how common this issue is across Ealing and the rest of the UK.”
While Ealing’s total of 9,072 fines is substantial, it is not the highest in the capital. According to Evans Halshaw’s broader research, Manchester issued nearly 50,000 fines over the same period, and Leeds recorded over 39,000. In London, Newham previously topped the list with 12,080 fines between 2016 and 2018.
The issue is widespread: more than 1 million fines have been issued nationally since 2019 for misuse of disabled bays. Enforcement varies by borough, with some councils prioritising high-traffic areas and others focusing on education and signage.
Blue Badge bays are reserved for people with mobility impairments and are often located near essential services. Misuse of these spaces can prevent eligible drivers from accessing shops, medical appointments, and public facilities.
An Ealing Council spokesperson said, “There has been an increase in fines after we moved our enforcement services to Greener Ealing in April 2024 where we are checking parking spaces designated for disabled people.
“In addition, our enforcement officers now have the ability to check the validity of disabled badges resulting in referrals being made. We also have dedicated fraud officers working across the borough to tackle blue badge fraud where our legal team prosecutes offenders.”
The full report and borough-by-borough breakdown can be found on Evans Halshaw’s website.
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