BBC News | UK | Car parks prompt security fears

Fear of crime has resulted in multi-storey car parks becoming no-go areas for many motorists, research has shown.

One in four drivers has had their car broken into or stolen while parked at a multi-storey, the study from the Norwich Union insurance firm revealed.

Three in four drivers prefer parking in an open air car park as dark corners, lack of security patrols and unsafe lifts and stairwells deter them from multi-storey facilities.

Some 500 vehicle owners were interviewed for the survey, which also revealed that one in five female motorists feared for their personal safety in multi-storeys and few would risk using them at night.

Suzy Lamplugh: Trust has produced safety guide
The government has already pinpointed car crime as a major concern, setting targets of reducing the problem by 30% over five years.

According to the study, motorists favour more security guards, better lighting and closed circuit television cameras.

The findings have been released alongside a new guide to safe car parking produced by Norwich Union in association with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust safety group.

The study also showed:

One in five drivers take no security measures
When driving alone at night, five times more drivers prefer parking on the street
One third of women have carried a personal attack alarm, compared to 3% of men
nearly half of motorists say security guards are the best way to improve car park safety.


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