New figures have revealed that Milton Keynes Council failed to prosecute a single motorist for misuse of a disabled parking 'blue badge' last year.
The badges can be used to park in disabled spaces, as well as on double yellow lines for a limited amount of time.
But the benefits they provide means they are often subject to theft and campaigners are calling on local authorities to do more to tackle misuse.
Disability charity Scope's Phil Talbot said: “Stealing blue badges isn’t a crime without consequences. They are a vital lifeline for those who genuinely need them.”
Milton Keynes was joined by Nottingham, Middlesbrough, Shropshire, Luton, Bournemouth and Reading councils in the list of local authorities who failed to prosecute a single motorist for the offence.
At the same time, the number of blue badges reported stolen nationally increased by 45 per cent year-on-year to 4,246.
People convicted of misusing a blue badge face a fine of up to £1,000.
Martin Tett, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “Councils have to take tough decisions on targeting limited resources on enforcement."
“Gathering evidence and mounting a prosecution can be time-consuming and expensive but councils know their areas and are best placed to decide the most effective way to tackle it.”
