Checklist: is your car park eligible for Safer Parking accreditation?

Every parking facility is unique, and different types of parking have different needs when it comes to safety, security and accessibility. With a range of Safer Parking accreditations available, which one is right for your facility? This checklist outlines the key requirements for each scheme to help you find out.

The Safer Parking initiative is a UK-wide police accreditation for parking facilities that have low crime and measures in place to ensure the safety and security of people and vehicles.

From the core Safer Parking Award through to Safer Parking Plus, Safer Parking Accessible, Safer Parking Freight and Safer Parking Meet & Greet, there are different standards designed to recognise the needs of different parking environments.

Use our checklist below to find out which scheme could be right for your facility.

Safer Parking

The Safer Parking Award can be gained by parking facilities where the operator has put measures in place to help deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

For this core award, the aim is to do everything possible to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime within the parking facility.

To achieve the Safer Parking Award, your facility should demonstrate:

Quality management – ensures safety and security measures are effectively maintained
Appropriate lighting – helps to increase visibility thus reducing the opportunities for crime
Effective surveillance – works to deter criminal activity
A clean environment – contributes to a positive customer experience and helps create a greater sense of security

These four areas form the foundation of a Safer Parking facility.

Is your car park ready for Safer Parking? Ask yourself:

Do you have appropriate management procedures in place?
Is the car park appropriately lit?
Are effective surveillance measures in place?
Is the car park clean and well maintained?
Are you taking appropriate measures to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour?

The Safer Parking award isn’t just a badge – it demonstrates a commitment to maintaining high standards and creating a safer environment for customers and their vehicles.

Awards are reviewed annually to ensure the quality and integrity of the Safer Parking brand is maintained.

Discover how Safer Parking accreditation can support a wide range of parking facilities, with case studies from Tendring District Council, M&S’s sustainable car park at Cheshire Oaks and Lakeside Shopping Centre’s inclusive car park.

Safer Parking Plus

Safer Parking Plus is a comprehensive assessment that demonstrates the highest quality of today's modern car parks across services, operations, design and build.

The award recognises facilities that go beyond the core requirements for Safer Parking and demonstrate high standards across safety, accessibility, environmental initiatives, operations, customer experience and design.

To achieve Safer Parking Plus, your facility should demonstrate:

Safety and security

Low crime and measures in place to ensure the safety of people and vehicles

Accessibility

The car park meets the Safer Parking Accessible criteria for disabled parking bays

Structural integrity

Appropriate consideration has been given to the structural integrity of the facility
A life care plan is in place where applicable
Windows, doors, lifts and other relevant elements of the car park are maintained in good condition

Environmental credentials

Environmental initiatives are in place
A car sharing scheme or initiative is available where appropriate
Motorcycle and bicycle parking is provided
Green spaces are incorporated where appropriate

Management and operations

Good management and operational procedures are in place
A customer charter is available
ANPR is used where appropriate
Help points are available
A range of payment options is provided

Customer experience

Wider parking bays are provided where appropriate
Family-friendly facilities are available
Mobile phone coverage is available
Additional services, such as car valeting, are provided

Safer Parking Plus informs current and potential customers of the highest standards in all aspects of the parking experience, while giving operators the opportunity to demonstrate the value of their parking services.

If you’re looking to demonstrate that your car park delivers more than security alone, Safer Parking Plus provides recognition across the full parking experience.

Safer Parking Accessible

The Safer Parking Accessible award is an accessibility accreditation designed to give customers confidence that they can travel safely and easily to their destination with the confidence that their parking accessibility needs will be met.

There are essential and desirable criteria to consider.

Essential criteria

Accessible parking bays

The number of accessible bays is in line with IStructE guidelines
Bays are appropriately sized
Bay demarcation is clear and correct
Accessible bays are clearly identifiable

Wayfinding and signage

Clear wayfinding is provided throughout the car park
Signage is clear and appropriate
Customers can easily find accessible parking and navigate to their destination

Payment

Accessible payment options are available

Safety and security

Appropriate safety, security and lighting measures are in place

Cleanliness

The car park is clean and well maintained

Desirable criteria

Facilities can further support accessibility by providing:

Shopmobility, either on-site or nearby
Accessible toilets or Changing Places facilities

For operators, accessibility is an important part of creating a positive parking experience.

For customers, having appropriately designed bays, clear signage, accessible payment facilities and safe routes can make the difference between a straightforward journey and a difficult one.

Safer Parking Accessible EV

The Safer Parking Accessible EV accreditation recognises parking facilities that provide accessible EV charging for customers.

Importantly, it’s not enough for the chargepoint itself to be accessible – Safer Parking Accessible EV sites must also meet Safer Parking Accessible standards, meaning the entire car park should be accessible.

Where accessible EV charging facilities are provided, sites must also meet essential criteria based on the BSI accessibility standard PAS 1899 guidelines. These cover the design and usability of the charging facilities, helping ensure customers can access and use them safely and independently.

The criteria for this accreditation is as follows:

Signage and wayfinding – clear signage helps customers locate accessible EV charging bays and navigate the car park
Accessibility to the charger – there must be sufficient accessible space around the charging point to allow customers to approach and use it
Screen height – the charge point screen should be positioned at an accessible height
Charger height – the charger and its controls should be within an appropriate accessible reach range
Cable management and connector – cables and connectors should be manageable and accessible, with suitable arrangements to help customers use the charge point safely

Meeting these requirements helps ensure that EV charging is not only available, but accessible and practical for everyone who needs to use it.

Safer Parking Freight

Lorry parks and truck stops have different requirements from other parking facilities.

With the rise in cargo theft in recent years and increasing expectations for the quality and security of roadside facilities, Safer Parking Freight provides a comprehensive assessment specifically for lorry parks and truck stops.

The scheme enables operators and providers to demonstrate high standards across the lorry parking and truck stop experience, while giving customers confidence in the services available.

To achieve this accreditation, the following requirements must be met:

Security

There is a continuous secure perimeter
CCTV covers the site, including payment machines
Payment machines are regularly emptied
On-site security personnel are available
Good lighting covers the perimeter and entrance and exit points
Landscaping allows uninterrupted views of the site by CCTV

Signage and wayfinding

Signage includes emergency contact details
Vehicles permitted are clearly identified
A telephone help line is available
Parking charges are clearly communicated
Entrance and exit signs are clearly shown
Clear wayfinding markings are provided

Health and safety

A designated Health & Safety Officer is in place
Evidence of health and safety inspections are available

Driver facilities

Toilet facilities are clean, working and maintained
Male and female toilet facilities are available
Drinking water is available
Waste bins and recycling facilities are provided
Food and drink are available

Security is particularly important for freight drivers, who need somewhere they can park, rest and access essential facilities with confidence.

Safer Parking Freight provides a recognised way for operators to demonstrate that their facilities meet high standards across security, management, health and safety and customer facilities.

See Safer Parking Freight accreditation in practice with case studies from Ashford International Truck Stop and TheStop at The Hollies.

Safer Parking Meet & Greet

When a motorist uses a meet and greet service, they are handing their vehicle over to someone else. Trust, security and customer service are therefore particularly important.

The Safer Parking Meet & Greet initiative is designed to raise industry standards and eliminate rogue operators across the UK.

Accredited members undergo rigorous assessments to demonstrate their commitment to security and customer service, giving motorists greater confidence when leaving their vehicle in professional hands.

Meet and greet operations should meet all required standards below:

Airports and ferry ports have designated, clearly marked and signposted Meet & Greet drop-off and pick-up zones
Meet & Greet staff, including drivers, are qualified, professional and fully insured
Staff carry ID cards and wear uniforms at all times
Vehicles are safely stored in Safer Parking accredited facilities
Vehicles are not driven any further than stated on the booking confirmation
Airports, ferry ports and Safer Parking Meet & Greet members are regularly assessed and monitored by qualified auditors
The operation is committed to providing excellent customer service
Motorists can access a single, reliable source of information for Safer Parking Meet & Greet members

Regular assessment and monitoring help ensure that members continue to meet the standards expected of the initiative.

For motorists, this provides reassurance that they are leaving their vehicle with an approved Meet & Greet operator.

Which Safer Parking accreditation is right for your facility?

Different parking facilities face different challenges, so the most appropriate accreditation will depend on the type of facility you operate and the standards you want to demonstrate.

Safer Parking is designed for car parks with high security standards.

Safer Parking Plus recognises the highest standards across modern car park services, operations, design and build.

Safer Parking Accessible is designed for accessible and inclusive parking facilities, while Safer Parking Accessible EV recognises facilities that also meet accessible EV charging needs.

Safer Parking Freight is specifically designed for lorry parks and truck stops.

Safer Parking Meet & Greet is designed to raise standards across meet and greet parking services and provide motorists with confidence when handing over their vehicle.

Contact the team today to discuss which accreditation you need for your car park.

Conclusion

Achieving Safer Parking accreditation demonstrates a commitment to safety, security and high standards.

If you’re considering accreditation, the checklists above are a useful starting point – they can help you identify the standards your facility already meets and areas where improvements may be required.

The Safer Parking initiative is open to parking facility owners and operators across the public and commercial sectors.

If you're ready to make your car park cleaner, brighter and safer, contact the team to find out how to join the initiative.