About 200 drivers were checked within the first three days of a week-long operation by Worcester City Council to tackle blue badge fraud.

Three clear cases of misuse were identified while a further three warrant further investigation.

The move is part of a countywide initiative to improve availability of on-street parking for genuine disabled drivers, which is being spearheaded by the city council in partnership with West Mercia Police, Wyre Forest, Wychavon, Redditch and Bromsgrove district councils.

Worcester City Council’s civil enforcement officers were conducting checks of people parking in the disabled bay in St Swithin’s Street yesterday and handing out leaflets explaining how blue badges should be used.

One driver, John Sears – a blue badge user for seven years – said he supported the crackdown.

“I think there are a lot people using them who shouldn’t be,” said the Malvern resident.

“I don’t mind being checked because I think the misuse of badges is quite a problem.”

Don Williams, of Witton, Droitwich, has been a blue badge holder for six years and was in favour of the checks. “There are a lot of people who park in these places that shouldn’t do,” he said.

“I think it’s quite a problem, even in private car parks like supermarkets.”

Alfred Gregory Eagers, who lives near Hallow, was issued his blue badge seven years ago, and said he was also happy to be checked.

He said: “I think it’s an excellent idea to stop people using disabled badges that shouldn’t be.”

More than 35,000 people currently hold blue badges in Worcestershire and anyone caught mis-using one – by either using stolen or forged badges, or using one issued to another person without their permission – runs the risk of losing the badge or facing prosecution in court.

Andy Chinn, civil enforcement team leader at the city council, said there had been a positive response from drivers stopped under the scheme.

“A blue badge is issued to an individual person and its use must be for their journey only – they are not to be used by others to pop to the bank or the shops,” he said.

“We receive many complaints from genuine users of blue badges that they cannot park in designated spaces because of other people who take advantage and unlawfully occupy disabled people’s spaces.”

The current crackdown will end tomorrow and there are plans to carry out further checks later this year.