Safer Parking Scheme

The Safer Parking scheme is an initiative of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO and ACPOS) and is aimed at reducing both crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities throughout the UK. This prestigious award scheme is managed by the British Parking Association through seven Regional Development Managers, located throughout the UK.

Formally known as Secured Car Parks, the Scheme has been in operation since 1992 and following a review, was re-launched in Scotland on 11 October 2004, at Edinburgh Airport by Cathy Jamieson, Justice Minister.  Further information regarding the launch is available here.

Why join?
Government statistics published in 2002 state that 20% of all crime is vehicle related and 22% of this occurs in parking areas. A research study found that the majority of accredited operators saw a marked reduction in vehicle related crime on their sites.  Some parking facilities experienced a drop of over 80% in vehicle related crime. In 2003, the Home Office carried out an evaluation of the scheme which concluded that “The award scheme has helped to reduce both crime and fear of crime and has acted as the driver for car park improvements“.

How does the Scheme operate?
The Safer Parking Scheme provides a Risk Assessment approach to effective management of crime and the fear of crime in all types of parking facilities and rewards efforts to create safe and non threatening environment where users can be confident that the safety of themselves and there property is taken seriously by the car park operators.

ParkMark (Trade Mark) is the new accreditation mark used to promote the scheme and is a symbol that a parking facility has been independently vetted by suitably experienced Police personnel and provides for a safe non threatening environment, where users can be confident that their safety and the safety of their property is taken seriously by car park owners and operators.

What are the benefits?

• Demonstrating a commitment to customers by creating a high quality parking facility that feels safe and has measures in place to reduce levels of crime.
  
• Consultation services of an expert Development Manager to advise and assist in getting parking facilities to a standard which achieves success in the Safer Parking Award assessment and thus obtain the prestigious ParkMark (Trade Mark) accreditation.
  
• Services of an accredited Police Officer who will assess the parking facility to ensure it reaches ParkMark (Trade Mark) Safer Parking standards.
  
• Regular Safer Parking Scheme Newsletters.
  
• Opportunity to join a large network of parking facilities. The number of Scottish parking Award holders has already reached 226, bringing the UK total to 3,544.
  
• Credibility of belonging to a nationwide Government backed scheme to reduce crime and improve public services.

For further information regarding the Safer Parking Scheme, please contact Tom Porter, Development Manager, Scotland and Northern Ireland on 07920 816105 or tom.p@britishparking.co.uk

Alternatively, visit the British Parking Association Website.