News

Special awards to promote safer parking areas have been presented to two more Dover District Council (DDC) car parks.

Tides Car Park in Deal and the Granville Road Car Park in Walmer are the latest to be recognised which means 90% of DDC car parks are now covered by the awards, the second highest in Kent, with 36 out of 41 car parks covered.

Park Mark is an initiative of the Association of Chief Police Officers ((ACPO), aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities. The award is made to facilities that have achieved the requirements of a risk assessment carried out by the Police. The award looks at management and inspection regimes and means that measures are in place to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour. For customers, using a Park Mark Safer Parking facility means the area has been vetted by the Police and has measures in place to create a safe environment. The scheme is managed by the British Parking Association on behalf of ACPO and supported by the Home Office.

The award at Tides Car Park follows the installation of infra-red CCTV cameras, funded by the Community Safety Partnership, and the attendance of local voluntary group the Carpenters Arms, supported by the GenX Project, at Victoria Park, which provides free hot drinks for youths on Friday nights.

Cllr Nigel Collor, DDC Cabinet Member for Access, said: “We continue to work hard to improve facilities and safety across the area, and this is a real credit to the hard work of our Parking Services Team and partners in the community. These latest awards mean that around 90% of the district’s car parks are now recognised as safer places to park.”

Cllr Mrs Julie Rook, Cabinet Member for Citizenship, said: “This is great news, and we are very grateful for the voluntary sector involvement, and the support of the Community Safety Partnership. We remain fully committed to working with partners in the community to make the district a safer place and to raise the quality of life in the area.”

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "Crime and anti-social behaviour have been reduced significantly across the Dover District, especially in Council operated car parks. Although crime in car parks is unlikely to be eliminated altogether, consideration has to be given to the location of the facility and the amount of use that it has. Dover District Council has worked hard to reduce the risk and fear of crime in its facilities and thoroughly deserves the awards.”