WEST Devon Borough Council has been awarded the Park Mark Safer Parking Award for all 12 of its pay and display car parks throughout the borough. The awards follow rigorous assessments by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the British Parking Association BPA). The award is the initiative of ACPO, aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities. The Safer Parking status and the 'Park Mark' are only awarded to those parking facilities that meet the requirements of a special risk assessment conducted by the police. To achieve the standard the parking operator must have measures in place that help to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, thereby doing everything they can to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime in their parking area. The award was presented by Supt Sarah Sharpe to Cllr Chris Jenkins, chairman of the council's environment and community committee, who said: 'I am pleased the council is working hard to ensure our car parks are functioning as efficiently as they do as they are so important to the smooth running of our towns and villages.' Cathy Aubertin, car parking and contract performance manager for West Devon Borough Council, said: 'This is the most recent of several initiatives we have worked on over the previous few years to make our car parks safer and more user-friendly for both residents and visitors to West Devon.' Chas Cannon from the BPA said: 'I am particularly pleased that West Devon Borough Council have joined the Safer Parking scheme and have had 12 of their car parks assessed and passed under the scheme. 'This shows their commitment to making their parking facilities safe places for residents and visitors to park their vehicles.'