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Open access, flat surface car parks are prime targets for car meets, resulting in vehicular anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, littering, road safety implications and other vehicle related offences.
Responsibility rests with site owners/occupiers who must ensure there are strong security measures in place. It is important that all businesses understand the implications of poor security.
When referring to this document please bear in mind no two business premises grounds are identical. The design of the open space and the layout of the site will differ from business to business. However, many of the issues regarding car meets are generic. All the preventative security measures noted below are best practice; some are legally required, and some may be determined by
budgets. Any concerns, please discuss with either your Norfolk Constabulary Designing Out Crime Officer, your Health and Safety Advisor, or your Property Advisor/Site Manager. The measures should be determined by your local premises risk assessment.
Review your preventative security measures regularly. Remember you may already have measures in place, so use them, e.g. do you have a barrier at the entrance to your car park? If so, shut it when your site is closed and make sure staff are aware of the role they must play.
Your preventative security measures must not compromise your emergency escape or fire precautions. Finally - you may need to be resourceful to achieve the necessary level of measures, especially in older locations. Treat any preventative security measures like layers. Consider each layer of measure in turn.
Where possible, install barriers, such as cantilever barriers. Bollards (automatic or manual) are recommended-to be certified to PAS68 for vehicle mitigation. While other bollard standards are available for demarcation which may be more suitable and cost effective at some sites, these may not withstand vehicle attack. Alternatively, a gate/fence system could be installed - at the same height as any fencing fitted, with anti-lift hinges, locking mechanisms that do not aid climbing, and secured using an approved locking mechanism. Consider putting automatic vehicle access system onto the gate if the site is a multi-use business park and access is needed 24/7 i.e. via key fob.
Formal surveillance through installation of, or upgraded, CCTV or ANPR cameras is recommended.
Lighting should be compatible with formal surveillance methods, such as CCTV, but if there is no CCTV, we recommend no lighting. Keep hedges low so that there is a good level of natural surveillance into the facility. Consider formal surveillance through security patrols - it is recommended that they hold an SIA license.
Report all suspicious activity at the time to the Police and ask any neighbouring properties/businesses to be vigilant to suspicious activity and report it.
Speed reduction measures at some sites could assist, such as raised footpaths/planters/speed bumps/chicanes/alligator teeth/flow plates.
Think about parking restrictions – ANPR or warden controlled. Consider gaining a Park Mark Safer Parking Accreditation which is a national standard for UK car parks that have low crime and measures in place to ensure safety of people and vehicles. Each car park is assessed by specially trained police assessors and a Park Mark is awarded when they have met those standards. The Safer Parking Scheme is managed by the British Parking Association on behalf of the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives Ltd, a subsidiary of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).
Display parking information signs that give guidance about the opening hours of the business, permitted parking times and activity that is not tolerated. Deploy ‘We are Watching You’ posters. Evidence suggests they assist in reducing crime and disorder where they are deployed.
Seek advice from your local Police about them enforcing Section 59, which provides uniformed police officers with powers to deal with persons using vehicles in an antisocial manner, either on or off road.
For site specific guidance in Norfolk or any advice around this leaflet please email the Problem Solving Team.
Call us on 101 or report online. In an emergency always dial 999.