It's Not Just Any Car Park - It's a Safer Car Park

When using a Park Mark car park people can be confident in the knowledge that the area has been vetted by the Police and measures are in place to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

Kelvin Reynolds, head of the SPS at the British Parking Association, said: "To reach the 3,000 members mark is a significant achievement for the Safer Parking Scheme. We are gaining critical mass with Park Mark and it is a sign that motorists are being more and more discerning and making a deliberate choice when deciding where to park. The Safer Parking Scheme helps create an environment where customers feel safe, encouraging their repeat custom, which is vital to the retail industry."

Euro Car Parks is working with Marks & Spencer to manage an increasing number of its car parks throughout the country and is involved in planning and designing car parks to accompany new Marks & Spencer stores. Both companies are committed to the Safer Parking Scheme and are aiming to have as many car parks accredited as quickly as possible.

Gordon Ellen, Head of Facilities for Marks & Spencer, said: We are pleased to be part of the Park Mark scheme, which demonstrates our commitment to improving our customer shopping experience. With over 50 per cent of our customer car parks having achieved this award we are continuing to work with Euro Car Parks to improve our car parking offer.

Les Knight, new business director at Euro Car Parks, and the newly appointed chairman of the BPA comments: "We consider quality of service as of the utmost importance and that completely reflects what Marks & Spencer stands for. This is why we are pushing ahead together with the Safer Parking Scheme, as we want to provide the very best service for the customers who visit Marks and Spencer."

What is the Safer Parking Scheme?

An initiative of the Associations of Chief Police Officers (ACPO/S), aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime in parking areas. This initiative is much needed, as vehicle crime accounts for a high percentage of all crime (up to 20%) and it is estimated that 22% of vehicle crime occurs in parking areas1. The Safer Parking Scheme works at reducing crime. Certain parking facilities that have received the Park Mark Safer Parking Award have seen a drop in vehicle-related crime of over 80%1.

The Park Mark Safer Parking Award is granted to parking areas that have achieved the requirements of a risk assessment as conducted by the Police. These requirements mean the parking operator has put in place measures that help to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, thereby doing everything they can to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime in their parking area.

For customers, using a Park Mark Safer Parking area means that the area has been vetted by the Police and has measures in place in order to create a safe environment.

About The British Parking Association

The British Parking Association is a non-profit making organisation set up in 1967 to bring together the interests of government, local government, commercial organisations and the general public. As the recognised authority within the parking industry, the BPA represents, promotes and influences the best interests of the parking and traffic management sectors throughout the UK and Europe. The BPA aims to advance both knowledge and standards of management within areas as diverse as planning, design, enforcement, construction and the maintenance of all types of parking and traffic control.

The BPA manages the Safer Parking Scheme on behalf of ACPO and with support from the Home Office and Scottish Executive. Seven Development Managers are employed by the BPA to actively promote and manage the scheme throughout the UK.

ACPO

The Association of Chief Police Officers (England, Wales and NI) and ACPOS (Scotland) manage the police element of the project through ACPO Crime Prevention Initiatives Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation wholly owned by ACPO.