Media centre

Tuesday 16 Jan 2007

SECURE CAR PARKS AT NORTH WEST STATIONS

Region & Route:

Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly are two of the six Network Rail stations that have come up to the mark for safe and secure parking for customers. Both stations have been granted the Park Mark® Safer Parking award, along with Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, Leeds and King’s Cross. The award for Liverpool Lime Street follows closely on the heels of the station having been awarded Secure Station status in December for the way the station team effectively managed crime problems in the previous 12 months. The Park Mark® Safer Parking award is an initiative from the Association of Chief Police Officers aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities. Network Rail has worked closely with its partner National Car Parks to achieve the award. It means the area has been vetted by police and has measures in place (including active management and deterring criminal activity and anti-social behaviour) to create a safe environment. A Home Office study showed that vehicle crime accounts for up to a quarter of all crime, and around 22% of vehicle crime occurs in parking areas. Safer parking facilities can see a drop in crime of up to 80 per cent. The Network Rail operated car park at Manchester Victoria, plus the car parks at Birmingham New Street, Euston, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo are expected to receive their awards over the next few months.