Flemingate in Beverley has achieved the coveted Park Mark^® Safer Parking Award for delivering a safe and crime-free parking experience in its impressive 500-space multi-storey car park.

The Park Mark^® Safer Parking Award is given to parking facilities that have achieved the requirements of a risk assessment conducted by the Police and the British Parking Association. The Safer Parking Scheme is an initiative of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime in parking areas.

The Safer Parking Scheme, managed by the British Parking Association (BPA), awards the Park Mark^® to facilities that have measures in place to create a safe environment. Police-accredited assessors undertake a site specific risk assessment. They assess the management and maintenance of the facility and check that there are appropriate levels of surveillance, lighting, signage and cleanliness, thereby reducing the opportunity for crime.

Flemingate has put significant measures in place to help deter and reduce criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, thereby doing everything possible to ensure visitors feel safe at all times.

Phil Taylor, Park Mark^® Scheme Area Manager, said: “We are delighted the Flemingate multi-storey car park has achieved the Park Mark^® Award, as it means the centre is delivering a safer environment for those using the car park. It is a fantastic achievement and testament to the effective management and high car parking standards maintained by the Flemingate management team.”

Graham Tait, Flemingate Centre Manager, said: “The safety and personal security of our customers is paramount, so I’m really pleased Flemingate passed the inspection with flying colours.

“Our 500-space multi-storey car park was rated very highly, especially for cleanliness and CCTV coverage. In addition, we took the opportunity to be measured for the Disabled Drivers Association-recommended car park award and passed that as well.”

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. Facilities that have received this award have seen a drop in vehicle-related crime of over 80% between 2004 and 2010.

The 16-acre Flemingate development – Beverley’s largest-ever regeneration scheme – is a £120m regeneration scheme by Hull-based Wykeland Group. In addition to the shopping centre, it is also home to the East Riding College campus, an 80-bed Premier Inn hotel and six-screen, 1,000-seat digital cinema, Parkway, as well as 130 high-quality homes.