Prestigious Park Mark Freight award for Sutterton Truck Stop

Park Mark Freight is a new and comprehensive assessment managed by Police Crime Prevention Initiatives and the British Parking Association that seeks to enhance the highest quality of today’s lorry parks and facilities in services and operations. The extension of Safer Parking to truck stops and lorry parks meets a growing demand for efficient, well-managed and high-quality lorry parks and truck stops in order to combat vehicle and cargo crime.

Park Mark Freight builds upon the Safer Parking Scheme’s Park Mark® Award by introducing essential criteria. The Park Mark® is primarily aimed at the prevention of criminal behaviour within the parking environment and requires owners/operators to adopt an active management strategy to ensure that there is minimal occurrence of crime. The freight industry experiences a high volume of cargo theft and the main Safer Parking Scheme Assessment Guidelines do not explicitly cover this type of business.

To be granted Park Mark Freight, a parking facility must demonstrate a wide range of responsibilities, which includes low crime, measures in place to enhance the safety of people and vehicles, good management and operations, and exemplary customer service. Facilities are subject to an annual assessment to ensure these high standards are maintained.

Dave Prior from Sutterton Truck Stop said “This is a great asset to us; it lets drivers know we continue to be serious about protecting them and their vehicles. To be the first truck park to receive the Park Mark Freight award within the East of England is a fantastic achievement.”

Peter Gravells, BPA Area Manager said: “I am delighted that Sutterton Truck Stop has achieved the Park Mark Freight award, demonstrating their hard work and commitment to provide a safe environment for users.”

John Manuel, Designing Out Crime Officer, Lincolnshire Police said ‘I am delighted to award Sutterton Truck Stop the Park Mark Freight award, this first of its type in the Lincolnshire Police area and in fact, the entire East of England. The truck park provides excellent facilities incorporating all aspects of safety, security, and exemplary management practices. I am looking forward to continuing working alongside the company directors in the future’.

For more information visit www.britishparking.co.uk/park-mark-freight

To find Park Mark awarded car parks visit www.parkmark.co.uk