PRESS RELEASE

Wembley Blue Badge fraudster, Hadir Same (dob 12.03.76), of 122a Windermere Avenue, Wembley, was given a criminal record and fines amounting to £900 at Brent Magistrates Court on Tuesday (11 November). Mr Same was caught on camera during the summer using a stolen parking badge by Brent Council's Audit and Investigation Squad.

Brent Council was acting on information from a member of the public that Hadir Same was using a blue badge and was not entitled to do so. A five-week undercover operation was launched in March this year during which time the team observed Mr Same displaying the stolen document in his black BMW in Fulham.

Investigations revealed that the genuine badge holder, a 70-year-old disabled woman from Wembley, reported the badge stolen from her vehicle in September 2007.

Officers worked with Hammersmith and Fulham's Parking Enforcement Team and his car was towed to the car pound in Barclay Road, Fulham and impounded. The blue badge was recovered when Mr Same arrived to collect his car and he was arrested.

Deputy Leader of Brent Council, Cllr Bob Blackman, said: "Using a stolen blue badge is not only illegal but selfish as it robs a genuine holder of that parking space. We will do everything in our power to prevent people from fraudulently using a blue badge. I applaud our Audit and Investigation team for their hard work in tracking down this individual, and assure residents that we are currently pursuing other suspects."