Disabled badge data sharing scheme to go live

Barcode technology and £10m data sharing scheme to be rolled out over next three years

Blue badges allow free parking for disabled people

Local councils are to receive £10m in funding to establish a national data sharing system to prevent the use of forged or stolen disabled parking badges nationwide.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is also looking at barcode technology to help identify fake badges faster.

Abuse of 'blue badges', which allow free parking in town centres, is a major problem for many councils, according to transport minister Paul Clark.

"Two thirds of councils tell us abuse of the scheme is a major issue, and that around one in every 200 badges in circulation are reported as stolen each year," he said.

Forged or stolen badges are sold on the black market for up to £1,500 a time, according to the DfT.

The scheme will allow councils to share information on real badge numbers, helping inspectors identify fakes more quickly.

"Too many people are misusing and abusing blue badges and this means the scheme is no longer benefiting the people that it should," said Helen Smith, director of policy at disabled charity Mobilise.