Council Employee Caught Using Mother's Blue Badge
Dismissed by Hammersmith & Fulham after disciplinary hearing
Council worker was caught in an operation brought about by a tip off
December 2, 2024
A Hammersmith and Fulham Council employee has been dismissed after using his mother’s Blue Badge to avoid paying parking fees. He was caught returning to his car after a tip off was received that he was improperly using the badge.
In a corporate anti-fraud report compiled ahead of an Audit Committee meeting next week, officers wrote an ‘operation’ was set up by the local authority to intercept the staff member. Blue Badges enable people with significant mobility issues to park in spaces near to the place they wish to visit.
“On the day of the operation, an officer approached a man at the vehicle who identified themselves and admitted they were a council employee,” the paper reads. “The officer issued a caution and seized the badge.
“When interviewed the employee admitted using the badge, which belonged to his mother, and acknowledged that displaying the Blue Badge exempted him from parking fees even though he was not the badge holder.” Following a disciplinary hearing he was dismissed.
The council report details that between April 1 and September 30 the Corporate Anti-Fraud Service (CAFS) identified 40 ‘positive outcomes’ from 361 investigations it closed. Outcomes are defined as ‘positive’ when cases end due to reasons such as a successful prosecution or disciplinary action. The 40 listed represent a notional value of more than £400,000 saved by the council.
A second corporate investigation included in the report involved an employee who worked 35 hours per week for Transport for London (TfL) alongside his 20 hours weekly at Hammersmith and Fulham Council. He had claimed family childcare needs meant he had to cut his hours working for the council.
Officers wrote, “The employee held a grade that permits secondary employment, and an investigation showed that he had requested a reduction in hours at LBHF prior to starting at TfL. However, he cited childcare as the reason for the change in hours instead of mentioning his secondary job at TfL.”
There was no conflict identified between the two jobs nor any misconduct. The employee was issued a warning for not disclosing the role with TfL but no further action was taken.
A number of other investigations completed between April and September are also outlined including the successful prosecution of a tenant who had been sub-letting his council home while living overseas. In July, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) covered a Hammersmith and Fulham Council worker who was caught doing private work after their branded van was spotted in Ealing. The employee resigned before an investigation into the case had concluded.
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter
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