Celebrating Southend’s award-winning car parks!

Nearly three quarters of Southend’s car parks have now won official Park Mark awards. The Park Mark accolade is awarded to car parks which have met stringent police criteria for safety, quality, and cleanliness and have passed official inspections.

At the last official audit of Southend’s car parks 19 qualified for Park Marks - but now another five have been given the award.

Park Mark awards are part of an initiative by the Association of Chief Police Officers to help reduce crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities. They are awarded to car parks that meet the requirements of a risk assessment conducted by the police. These show that the parking operator has installed measures to help deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

Drivers using a Park Mark car park can be assured that the area has been vetted by the police and has strategies in place to create a safe environment.

These are:

quality management 

appropriate lighting

effective surveillance and

a clean environment 

The scheme is managed by the British Parking Association (BPA) on behalf of Secured By Design. It is supported by the Home Office and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. To find your nearest Park Mark® accredited car park visit www.parkmark.co.uk

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Waste and Transport, Councillor Tony Cox, said: “It is excellent to know that such a high proportion of the borough’s car parks have met these exacting standards.

“Not only have our previous Park Mark award-winning car parks managed to maintain their status, but we have gained five more too.

“Safe car parks are yet another element to add to the warm welcome we can offer to residents and visitors when they travel about the borough.”

Chief Inspector David Colwell, Essex Police’s Southend District Commander, said: "I am very pleased that Southend has been recognised again for having safe facilities for people to park and enjoy the many things the borough has to offer.

“Essex Police, along with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, work tirelessly every day to keep this area safe, and this is just another way that residents and visitors can feel safer."