Safer Parking for All at New London Shopping Centre

Car park manager, Gary Lee was presented with the Park Mark Award from Sector Inspector Paul Banbro of Hammersmith & Fulham Metropolitan Police Borough. PC David Hinton was also at the presentation. The team is directly responsible for the Policing of the Westfield London Shopping Centre.

The Safer Parking Scheme (SPS), run by the BPA for the Association of Chief Police Officers, was developed to provide a benchmark standard for all parking areas across the UK, to create safer parking both for the public and their vehicles.

The Park Mark Safer Parking Award is granted to parking areas that have achieved the requirements of a risk assessment 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.

Gary Lee said: We are delighted to receive Park Mark status in the opening weeks of the new centre. We are committed to the highest level of customer service, and with Christmas due to be our busiest time, it was vital to provide all our shoppers with a safe and reliable parking facility while they enjoy the new centre.

The shopping centre in Shepherds Bush has a vehicle management system to indicate parking availability and also offers a valet parking service for the convenience of its customers.

Kelvin Reynolds, head of SPS at the British Parking Association, said: With the number of Park Mark awards on the increase - we now have over 3,700 members - it proves that the scheme is an invaluable tool in helping to make parking environments safe and increasing public reassurance in these areas. When drivers leave their cars in Park Mark award facilities they will find them exactly as they left them on their return.

The BPA

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. Details of the Safer Parking Scheme and ACPO may be found at: www.securedbydesign.com and at www.britishparking.co.uk