Rail station car parks in Essex receive awards for security

Three Essex rail station car parks, run by Greater Anglia and its station car park operator, NCP, have been recognised with ‘Park Mark’ awards.

Bishop’s Stortford station’s new multi-storey car park received a new accreditation, while Witham and Audley End station car parks were awarded re-accreditations for levels of safety and security.

The Park Marks demonstrate that the car parks have measures in place to deter crime and anti-social behaviour, and have been risk assessed by the police, thus making the car parks safer environments for both customers and their vehicles.

Park Mark is the accredited logo of Safer Parking Scheme, which is given to parking facilities that have achieved the requirements of a risk assessment conducted by the Police and the British Parking Association.

Their assessments include management and maintenance of the facility, checking that there are appropriate levels of surveillance, lighting, signage and cleanliness. All these are known to reduce the opportunity for crime and thus create a safer environment for the motorist and their vehicle.

Car parks with the Park Mark award can use signage featuring the distinctive Park Mark tick, so that drivers know exactly where to go for safe parking. Nationally, facilities that have received this award have seen a drop in vehicle-related crime of over 80 per cent.

The Park Mark awards for rail stations in Essex mean that the parking operator, NCP, 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 facilities.

Greater Anglia’s Asset Management Director, Simone Bailey, said, “Passenger safety is our top priority and I am delighted that these stations have been recognised as offering high security standards through the Park Mark awards.

“I hope it will give station users confidence that we take their safety and security very seriously, not only on trains and stations, but in our parking facilities too. I would like to congratulate the station team and NCP on receiving Safer Parking Status for a further year.”

Mark Kraft, NCP Operations Manager said, “NCP is delighted to receive these awards. It’s rewarding to see that the hard work of our team is continuing to keep the standards high in our estate of Greater Anglia car parks, where we have already achieved these prestigious accreditations. This recognition not only reflects the work of my NCP team, but demonstrates the strength of the true partnership between Greater Anglia and NCP. We thank Greater Anglia for their support in our work and look forward to continuing to raise the bar.”

Ian Wilson, BPA Area Manager, Southeast said: “Mark and his team work tirelessly to reduce crime in the station car parks they operate on behalf of Greater Anglia. The planning and effort that has been put into the brand-new purpose-built, multi-storey car park at Bishop’s Stortford, demonstrates NCP’s ongoing commitment to providing a safe environment for users.”

The awards for Bishop’s Stortford, Audley End and Witham mean that virtually all Greater Anglia station car parks now hold a Park Mark Award.

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