Most journeys end in a car park – here’s how to make it a safe and secure one

Parking is often the first and last part of a journey. Whether someone is commuting, shopping, attending an appointment or taking a rest break, the place where they leave their vehicle should feel secure, accessible and well managed. The UK’s police-supported Safer Parking initiative provides a clear, independently assessed standard for fulfilling that aim.

Safer Parking is a UK-wide police standard and accreditation for parking facilities with low crime and measures in place to protect people and vehicles. Formerly known as Park Mark, the initiative is owned by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (Police CPI), a police-owned, not-for-profit organisation working on behalf of the UK Police Service.

It’s open to public and private-sector operators, including local authorities, hospitals, stations, shopping centres, leisure destinations, hotels, freight sites and meet-and-greet services. Accreditation is awarded only after a police risk assessment confirms that the operator has taken appropriate steps to deter crime and anti-social behaviour, and reduce the fear of crime.

What the initiative comprises

The core Safer Parking assessment brings together four essentials: quality management, appropriate lighting, effective surveillance and a clean, well-maintained environment. In practice, that can include trained staff, clear operating and incident procedures, secure payment arrangements, visible patrols or CCTV, unobstructed sightlines, legible signage, well-lit entrances, exits, stairwells, walkways and payment areas, and prompt attention to damage, litter or graffiti. Awards are reviewed annually so that the standard reflects continued performance, rather than a one-off inspection.

The wider initiative comprises six accreditations tailored to different settings and users: Safer Parking for facilities with strong security standards; Safer Parking Plus for car parks meeting the initiative’s highest level of security; Safer Parking Freight for lorry parks and truck stops; Safer Parking Meet & Greet for vehicle handover services; Safer Parking Accessible for inclusive parking facilities; and Safer Parking Accessible EV for accessible charging provision. Together, they recognise that a town-centre car park, a truck stop and an accessible EV-charging facility face different risks, while still requiring the same disciplined approach to safety, security, accessibility and customer confidence.

The importance of partnerships in turning standards into safer places

The relationship between the UK Police Service, the Safer Parking initiative and the British Parking Association (BPA) is central to the initiative’s credibility, consistency and reach. Police CPI, working on behalf of UK policing, provides strategic oversight and maintains the country’s only police-backed security benchmark for parking facilities. Police risk assessments and the expertise of Designing Out Crime Officers ensure that accreditation is grounded in local evidence, practical crime prevention and consistent national standards.

The BPA brings extensive operational knowledge of the parking sector and delivered the initiative on behalf of the police from 2002 until its return to direct Police CPI management in 2026. That long-standing partnership remains vital – policing insight identifies and responds to risk; the Safer Parking initiative translates that insight into clear, assessable standards; and the BPA connects those standards with operators and wider industry practice.

By continuing to share expertise, promote compliance and champion improvement, the three organisations can help create safe, secure, accessible and well-managed parking facilities in all their forms – from town-centre car parks and hospitals to freight sites, accessible bays, EV charging areas and meet-and-greet services.

Why VAWG must be central to Safer Parking

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) covers a broad range of offences and harmful behaviours – including domestic abuse, rape and other sexual offences, stalking and harassment – that disproportionately affect women and girls, although men and boys can also be victims.

Car parks can create particular concerns when routes are isolated, lighting is poor, sightlines are blocked or help is difficult to find. The College of Policing’s guidance on reducing VAWG in public spaces covers designing out crime, improved lighting, dedicated reporting routes, data sharing and partnership working.

It also cautions that, although CCTV can reduce some crime – particularly vehicle and property crime in car parks – there is no evidence that CCTV alone reduces violent crime or VAWG specifically. Addressing these conditions is therefore not an optional extra – it is central to improving safety, reducing opportunities for offences and reducing fear of crime. That’s why surveillance should be applied as part of a wider package rather than as a stand-alone solution.

A VAWG-informed approach asks operators to understand who feels unsafe, where, when and why, and then respond through design, management and partnership. Practical measures include consistent lighting, open sightlines, active surveillance, clearly marked pedestrian routes, visible staff or assistance points, reliable and discreet reporting arrangements, and rapid responses to faults or incidents.

Risk assessments should draw on crime data, reports of harassment and users’ lived experience, including concerns that may never reach the threshold of a recorded crime. These measures benefit everyone while recognising the specific and disproportionate risks experienced by women and girls.

What operators can take from Safer Parking

There is no single blueprint for every parking facility – the risks will vary according to location, layout, operating hours and the people who use the site. The consistent requirement is a risk-led approach that turns evidence into visible, maintained and regularly reviewed action.

For operators, that means understanding local crime patterns and user concerns; designing around personal safety, accessibility and ease of movement; maintaining lighting, surveillance and the wider environment; and providing clear reporting and escalation routes while working with police, local authorities and community partners.

As broader VAWG-informed good practice, operators should also consider staff training on recognising and responding appropriately to harassment and other concerning behaviour. Crucially, it means embedding VAWG considerations into routine risk assessment and operational decision-making, rather than treating women’s safety as a separate or occasional issue.

Conclusion

With more than 4,500 accredited facilities across the UK, Safer Parking gives motorists a recognisable sign that a site has been assessed against a police-supported standard. For operators, the award is not just a badge – it’s an ongoing commitment to cleaner, brighter and safer places where everyone can arrive, park and continue their journey with confidence.

To learn more about the standards or apply for accreditation, contact the team today.