EAST Hampshire District Council (EHDC) is cracking down on Blue Badge misuse.

The district’s civil enforcement officers spent a day last month focusing on drivers who misuse the badge, which offers free or preferential parking for people with disabilities.

Working in partnership with Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council, officers checked the ownership of Blue Badges being used in car parks and on streets in Alton and Petersfield.

As a result, four badges were retained for improper use. One had expired, one was counterfeit, and two were being used without the badge holder being present.

A driver also refused to produce the Blue Badge being displayed, and this case will also be pursued.

EHDC’s civil enforcement officers check Blue Badges as part of their daily duties to protect the disabled parking facilities for legitimate Blue Badge holders.

Since January 2016, the authority has filed 99 reports to Hampshire County Council relating to suspected Blue Badge misuse. Of these, 46 have led to penalty charge notices, and 84 saw the Blue Badge returned to the issuing authority.

Julie Butler, EHDC’s portfolio for customer services, said: “We are the highest performing council for Blue Badge misuse detection and retention in the county.

“We are very proud of this title as it demonstrates to motorists that we are committed to protecting disabled parking provision. We also need to protect car park income to pay for repairs and maintenance costs they require on an ongoing basis.”