The Sunniside Car Park, on West Wear Street, was praised by Northumbria Police for its CCTV cameras and monitoring by on-site security staff.

Open 24-hours a day, it also has good quality lighting and electronically controlled entrance and exit barriers.

The car park is part of a multi-cinema and leisure complex which is due to be fully opened next year.

The Secured Car Parks scheme was launched in 1992 by the Association of Chief Police Officers to improve security standards at car parks across the UK.

'Zero crime record'

Supported by the Home Office and administered by the British Parking Association, it has recently been updated, and is now known as the Safer Parking Award scheme.

Designated car parks must now meet stringent safety standards set by the local police force.

Ch Supt Jim Campbell, area commander for Sunderland, said: "This car park is safer because of the security features it includes.

"This means that vehicles are much less likely to be stolen or broken into, which helps to reduce car crime and the fear of such crime."

Five other car parks in Sunderland have won the original awards.

These are St Mary's, the Bridges II, Enterprise Park, the Bridges Rooftop and Akenside Apartments, which was the first privately-owned residential car park to obtain secure status.

All have since maintained a 100% zero crime record.