Your Concerns

One of your main concerns when leaving your car unattended at a car park for any length of time is how "secure" it will be, whilst you are away. While no car park can guarantee that you will not be a victim of crime, it is always good to know that at least the car park owners are doing their best to prevent it.

Independent assessment of the car parks crime prevention measures is one way that helps to ensure this is being done. The British Parking Association administers such a scheme, where car parks can apply for assessment and approval. The BPA took over running of the scheme in 2001 from the AA. The BPA scheme now has over 1400 members.

Many of the car parks we feature have attained award status having originally been awarded the " Secured Car Parks " award. Most car parks offer regular security patrols and perimeter fencing.

Secured Car Parks

The secured car parks scheme was launched by ACPO in 1992 to encourage the parking industry to raise security standards within parking facilities and reduce vehicle crime. Parking facility owners and operators must meet a stringent set of standards including good design and management, an effective level of security patrols, good lighting and help points to be awarded secured parking status.

In partnership with the Home office and the British Parking Association who run the scheme, this initiative has seen a reduction in car crime within award holding parking facilities with some operators reporting drops as much as 86%.

Safer Parking Scheme

The Secured Car Parks Award Scheme, an ACPO initiative to reduce crime and fear of crime in parking facilities has been revised and was officially launched as the 'Safer Parking Scheme' in London on the 22nd April 2004.

The new Safer Parking Scheme will build on the success of the old scheme and is an opportunity for more operators to join and further reduce crime in parking facilities. Improvements made include; a new risk assessment approach of parking facilities and membership of the scheme for award holders. The re-vamped scheme does not come into effect until October this year from which time existing award holders will have their parking facilities assessed under the new 'Safer Parking Award' criteria.

Bob Quick, ACPO chairman of the Secure Car Parks Scheme and Deputy Chief Constable of Surrey Police, said:

"The Secured Car Park Scheme in its original format was effective in reducing crime, but being fundamentally design-led prevented some operators from joining. Acknowledging this the scheme has been revised in consultation with the industry, with the criteria being risk rather than design based. I am confident that the new Safer Parking Scheme will allow all operators the opportunity to fulfil the criteria that will be recognised with the highly valued Safer Parking Award status."

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said:

"The Government wants to work with industry to make car parks safer. We believe that ACPO's revised Safer Parking scheme gives the car park industry a fresh chance to join the scheme, demonstrating to the public that they are serious about tackling the crime taking place in their car parks.

"I have announced today that if real progress to increase security and reduce crime in car parks is not made within twelve months we will have to look at all the options to encourage the industry to deliver the improvements in safety that we all want. This includes the possibility of legislation.

The British Parking Association said:

"The Safer Parking Scheme is an essential and positive development in the parking industry. By belonging to the scheme, Parking Operators show a commitment to reducing both the fear of crime and criminal activity in their facilities. This serves to benefit society as a whole, by improving the environment in which we live and therefore our quality of life."

National Car Parks (NCP) said:

"We are delighted that the Safer Parking Scheme recognises the importance of an active crime prevention program and the recording of accurate crime figures. The move away from the physical structure to actual performance is fully justified by the success of our Active Management initiative and will allow us to play our full part in the new programme."

Alan Ashbee, Chief Executive of Q-Park Ltd, said:

"Q-Park has always been a strong supporter of the Secured Car Parks Award scheme and currently has 40 awards. I believe that the change in emphasis of the new scheme, towards providing a safer environment, will encourage both owners and operators to raise the standard of customer service in UK car parks."

For information

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.

For more information on the Safer Parking Scheme, please see the British Parking Association website and the ACPO website for details.

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