MOTORISTS who were illegally parking in disabled bays have been snared during targeted police patrols.

The operation was carried last Friday in two locations across the borough, with officers looking for people wrongly displaying or using stolen blue badges in vehicles.

Police fined 14 people a total of £840 for using a disabled badge in Tally Ho corner, North Finchley, and in Finchley Road, Temple Fortune.

Officers who were patrolling the streets and car parks in the borough, said drivers will sometimes use fake or doctored badges to access free parking.

These badges were seized by police and each motorist was given a £60 penalty charge.

Another three people were arrested on warrants issued by the courts for previous driving offences.

Inspector Jane Lee, of Barnet police, ran the operation which included 20 officers from the Met's special constabulary and community support officers.

She said: “We are concerned that people genuinely entitled to park are being prevented from doing so as the spaces are being taken by those illegally using a badge they have no right too.”

Anyone with information on someone illegally using a blue badge in the borough can call Barnet police on 020 8733 5033 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.