MORE than 1,000 disabled parking permits have been seized across Hampshire in the past three years amid an increase in people abusing the system.

The national Blue Badge scheme enables drivers with mobility issues to use disabled bays for free for as long as they like.

They can even leave their vehicle on double yellow lines for up to three hours unless there is a ban on loading.

But council bosses say the number of people abusing the system is on the rise.

A total of 1,038 blue badges have been confiscated by civil enforcement officers since the start of 2020, with Eastleigh seeing the highest overall figure.

Daily Echo: More than 1,000 blue badges have been seized in Hampshire in the past three yearsMore than 1,000 blue badges have been seized in Hampshire in the past three years (Image: PA)

Data obtained by the Daily Echo under the Freedom of Information Act shows 24 badges were retained in the town in 2020, followed by 159 in 2021 and 181 in 2022.

The statistics are far higher than those recorded in other parts of Hampshire.

In Southampton, a total of 66 badges were confiscated during the same three-year period, while just four were retained in Fareham.

READ MORE: Southampton man fined for using dead person's disabled parking badge

According to Hampshire County Council, the majority of badges involved were either being misused or had expired.

Misuse can include using a stolen, lost or counterfeit badge, using a badge that belonged to someone who has died, or using a badge when the holder is not present.

Daily Echo: Keith House, leader of Eastleigh Borough CouncilKeith House, leader of Eastleigh Borough Council (Image: Newsquest.)

Commenting on the Eastleigh figures the leader of the borough council, Cllr Keith House, said: "Blue badges are only meant for people with disabilities that need them.

"It’s clear the number of detected infringements of the scheme are rising so the message is clear - don’t abuse the scheme, you may get caught."

READ MORE: More than 100 cases of Blue Badge misuse recorded in Eastleigh

Graham Footer, chief executive of Disabled Motoring UK, added: "We are delighted that Hampshire County Council is taking Blue Badge abuse seriously.

"We congratulate them for doing so and hope other local authorities take heed from the example they are setting.

"As for the number of badges being retained/seized, there could be a number of reasons.

"Eastleigh is situated where two major motorways converge, so they may get a lot of transiting traffic. Or it could be the density and demographics of the population."

About 2.4m disabled people in England have Blue Badges, which are issued by local councils.

The scheme is open to people who are unable to walk, have difficulty walking, or who are likely to harm either themselves or others when walking.