A disabled man has criticised police officers who parked in a disabled space - claiming it left him in a "real struggle".<br /><br />Michael, who doesn't want his surname used, says it was upsetting to find a police van parked in a disabled bay outside of Bradford City Hall earlier this month.<br /><br />The 55-year-old claims he was forced to park further away than usual and struggled to reach his final destination.<br /><br />West Yorkshire Police said it was "operationally necessary" to use the space due to a football match that day. <br /><br />But Michael says that doesn't wash with him.<br /><br />And he said the ordeal - which he caught on video - left him feeling like disabled people don't matter.<br /><br />Michael, who has a blue badge, said: "It made me so angry because they just don’t care about the needs of disabled people. It's not good at all.<br /><br />"It’s just discrimination and we’re being ignored,.<br /><br />"They just don't take disabled parking spaces seriously. The football is not a reasonable excuse.<br /><br />"I'd totally get it if there had been an emergency like a terrorist attack or road accident, which are both unexpected.<br /><br />"But they know when the football is happening so have time to plan.<br /><br />"It's an abuse of the disabled bay, and I had to park further away which was a real struggle for me."<br /><br />Michael visited Bradford on Saturday, March 18.<br /><br />Michael said he had hoped to park in a disabled space but, as video shows, it was occupied by a police van.<br /><br />He added that he often encounters difficulties with people parking in disabled spots at the supermarket.<br /><br />But he believes the police should be more aware of their actions.<br /><br />Michael said: "It's very frustrating and makes you feel like you don't matter.<br /><br />"But it's more understandable from the general public than the police."<br /><br />A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “Officers using the police vehicle were responding to demand related to a football match.<br /><br />“Other available parking options were considered prior to it being deemed operationally necessary to park at that location.<br /><br />“The vehicle was moved to a designated Police parking bay as soon as it was possible to do so.”<br /><br />A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Council Wardens would not ask a police vehicle to move, if they had arranged with us in advance to park in a particular location, on police business.<br /><br />"They could also be dealing with an emergency.<br /><br />“We cannot guarantee a space outside City Hall, even if the police van had not been parked there, as this is a well-used location for Blue Badge holders.<br /><br />"But, there are lots of other places they can park, such as pay and display bays and yellow line restrictions if their time clock is displayed''.
