New figures have revealed that Manchester has issued more fines for Blue Badge parking misuse than any other UK council, with nearly 50,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) handed out since 2019.

The data forms part of a national study by Evans Halshaw, who submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to 171 local authorities across the UK asking for data on disabled parking bay misuse between 2019 and 2024. As of September 2025, 123 councils responded with data that could be analysed – and Manchester topped the list for the highest number of fines issued.

The figures show that 49,814 fines were issued by Manchester City Council between 2019 and 2024 to drivers parked in disabled bays without displaying a valid Blue Badge.

Here’s how the number of fines has varied year-on-year:

2019: 7,462
2020: 5,755
2021: 7,902
2022: 9,090
2023: 9,689
2024: 9,916
The total value of fines issued over the six-year period exceeds £3.4 million, with £693,070 in fines issued in 2024 alone.

The council also confirmed that there were 4,005 repeat offenders, where more than one PCN had been issued to the same vehicle.

The top locations for Blue Badge offences were:

St Mary’s Street (City Centre): 3,519 fines
Arndale Car Park: 2,860 fines
Sidney Street: 2,222 fines
Wilmslow Road (Rusholme): 1,938 fines
Park Crescent: 1,493 fines
Julie Wallman, Evans Halshaw Divisional Marketing Director, commented:

“Disabled parking bays exist to ensure safe and accessible travel for people with limited mobility, whether they’re heading to a supermarket, medical appointment, or just going about their day.

“When drivers use these spaces without a Blue Badge, it reduces availability for those who genuinely need them.

“These figures show just how common this issue is across Manchester and the rest of the UK, and highlight the importance of keeping accessible spaces available, particularly as more people rely on mobility solutions to support independent living.”