‘People assume we’re grifters’: disabled Britons report rise in abuse over blue badges
Badge holders and carers report being harassed, filmed and threatened by strangers who think they are faking disability Disabled people who use blue badges to go about their daily lives have said they are being harassed, questioned and even assaulted, as anti-benefits rhetoric becomes more mainstream in the UK. About 3 million people in the UK now have a blue badge, including 1 in 15 adults in England . The number of people who qualify for the scheme – which allows drivers to park in more access
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Disabled people using accessible services have long faced harassment. Illustration: Guardian Design/AlamyView image in fullscreenDisabled people using accessible services have long faced harassment. Illustration: Guardian Design/AlamyDisability‘People assume we’re grifters’: disabled Britons report rise in abuse over blue badgesBadge holders and carers report being harassed, filmed and threatened by strangers who think they are faking disabilityFrances RyanWed 29 Apr 2026 01.00 EDTLast modified on Wed 29 Apr 2026 01.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleDisabled people who use blue badges to go about their daily lives have said they are being harassed, questioned and even assaulted, as anti-benefits rhetoric becomes more mainstream in the UK.About 3 million people in the UK now have a…
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