A SHOPPING centre has been presented with an award for its efforts to cut crime in its car parks.

Dalton Park, the outlet shopping centre near Murton in County Durham, has been presented with the Park Mark Safer Parking Award for the eighth consecutive year.

Officers from Durham Police visited the 60-shop retail centre to present staff with the award, which was set up by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the British Parking Association to honour organisations from both the public and private sector which put measures in place to deter crime and anti-social behaviour.

The national scheme, now in its 10th year, was designed to cut crime and the fear of crime.

Dalton Park won the award for its management of its 1200-space free car park, with its lighting, effective surveillance and standard of cleanliness highlighted by inspectors.

Jerry Hatch, general manager of outlets for Knight Frank, which runs Dalton Park, said he was delighted to have reached the standard required to be awarded the Park Mark for the eighth year in a row.

He added: “Customer safety is of paramount importance at Dalton Park.

“We want our visitors to enjoy the best possible shopping experience and easy, safe and hassle-free parking is essential to that enjoyment”.