Nottingham East Midlands Airport (NEMA) has become the first airport in the UK and the first organisation in the Midlands to be given the Park Mark Safer Parking Award.
The initiative of the Association of Chief Police Officers is backed by the Home Office and Scottish Executive and aimed at reducing crime and fear of crime. Each parking area has a risk assessment, by the police, to check whether the parking operator has put in place measures that help to deter crime and anti-social behaviour.
What they say
NEMA’s Commercial Manager, Jamie Christon said, "We’re absolutely delighted to have reached this national standard of safety at our car parking facilities here at NEMA. It gives that important peace of mind to our passengers and visitors that when they leave their vehicle, they can be assured that we will do our utmost to keep them safe at all times".
Between April 2003 and March 2004, over two and a half million vehicles were parked at Nottingham East Midlands Airport. Leicestershire Police reports during that period, only 29 incidents of vehicle crime were recorded. Alan Jones, Development Manager, British Parking Association said: "Nottingham East Midlands Airport has shown the correct attitude toward passenger and vehicle safety and implemented all the required physical and management procedures required to achieve the award in three of their parking facilities. It is hoped that other private and local operated car parks will take on board Nottingham East Midlands lead and work toward making their parking facilities safer environments.”
Leicestershire Police Chief Superintendent Geoff Feavyour said: "The safer parking scheme is aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities. We have been working with the Airport management for a considerable time to deter criminal activity. The Airport has introduced an effective combination of active management procedures and preventative measures, and I would like to congratulate them on obtaining the award".
Prestige, which also operates indoor car parking at NEMA, has gained the award too. Meanwhile, Nottingham East Midlands Airport has been undertaking improvement works on the short-stay car park.
Costing more than £90,000, it includes the relining and enhancement of the car park itself and creating a dedicated zone for the dropping-off and picking-up of passengers. NEMA is also increasing the number of taxi bays adjacent to the terminal arrivals area and making disabled parking areas near the check-in hall much better with special assistance points.
New ticket payment kiosks with weather shelters have been installed at the exits to the car park and customers can also pay by debit and credit card at all barriers. Staff will be on hand to answer questions through the use of dedicated assistance points.
