Not all disabilities are visible, so lose the blue badge vigilante notes

ANOTHER week and another victim of the blue badge vigilantes.

This time it was young mum Emma Gearling’s turn to be in the firing line.

Innocent users of the scheme are being wrongly targeted and those hiding behind anonymity to write poison pen notes full of abuse should be ashamed of themselves. This must stop. Now.

The British Polio Fellowship has called for a clampdown on those using disabled spaces illegally – but those with valid blue badges have good reasons for having them.

Qualifying conditions tightened considerably in recent years, so people should not jump to conclusions. Invisible disabilities’ such as Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) are not obvious; while a person may be driving for someone: in Emma’s case, for her disabled son!

Taking the law into your own hands is never right and legitimate concerns should be reported to the proper authorities.

We are passionate in not wishing to see the blue badge scheme abused – but the last thing we need is well-meaning Marples and Maigrets taking ill-informed sleuthing skills to the streets.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions – and that is a path some are unwittingly treading.

Post Polio Syndrome is a largely invisible neurological condition, leading to difficulty breathing and making walking long distances impossible.

Anyone who needs our help can visit www.britishpolio.org.uk or call 0800 043 1935. David Mitchell The British Polio Fellowship