"Secure" Is an Adjective, Not a Standard
In the UK there is no licensing regime that says a lorry park can or cannot call itself "secure". Anyone with a yard, a fence and a padlock can call themselves a secure park. The actual standard varies wildly.
If you are leaving a £200k tractor or a £150k cargo unattended overnight, you need to know what you are actually buying.
The Eight-Point Checklist
Before booking with any operator, run through this:
1. Perimeter Fence
- What you want: Anti-ram security fencing, ideally PAS 68 rated for any high-value site. Minimum 2.4m height, properly anchored.
- Red flag: A wooden fence, a rusting chain-link fence, or a fence with gaps you can drive through.
2. Gate Control
- What you want: ANPR or staffed entry. Every vehicle logged in and out. Visiting drivers verified.
- Red flag: A padlock that anyone with the code can open. No log of who entered when.
3. CCTV Coverage
- What you want: 24/7 monitored CCTV, minimum 4K cameras covering every bay, with overlapping coverage so no blind spots exist. Recording retained for 30 days minimum.
- Red flag: Two PTZ cameras pointing at the gate and nothing else. "Decorative" CCTV with no recording.
4. Lighting
- What you want: All bays lit overnight. No dark corners.
- Red flag: A dark perimeter or unlit storage area. Theft happens in darkness.
5. On-Site Presence
- What you want: Staffed during operating hours, with a clear out-of-hours escalation. Security patrols on larger sites.
- Red flag: "Unmanned but monitored remotely" — does anyone actually act on the monitoring?
6. Driver Facilities
- What you want: Clean toilets, hot showers, food access, a quiet rest area. This is not just comfort — DVSA expects it for valid rest.
- Red flag: A single portaloo. No food access within walking distance.
7. Bay Size
- What you want: Bays sized for the vehicle. 17m+ for articulated units. Manoeuvring space.
- Red flag: Bays so tight you jack-knife in. Vehicles parked over multiple bay lines because nothing fits.
8. Insurance Position
- What you want: Clarity. Most operators do not insure the cargo or vehicle in their care — your fleet insurance does. They should be open about this.
- Red flag: Vague promises about "fully insured" without paperwork.
Common Tricks to Watch For
A few things less ethical operators do:
- "Newly upgraded CCTV" — when in fact it has not been recording for months
- "24/7 security" — meaning one part-time guard who covers the gate from 18:00 to 22:00
- "Fenced perimeter" — meaning fenced on three sides, with the fourth side an open field
- "Free shower" — that turns out to be one cubicle for 200 drivers, no hot water
A site that is genuinely secure is comfortable being audited. Ask to look around before booking.
Industry-Recognised Schemes
Some sites are accredited under industry security schemes such as TAPA TSR (Trucking Security Requirements) levels 1–3, or Park Mark Freight. These accreditations are useful but not exhaustive — a non-accredited site can still be excellent, and an accredited site can let its standards slip between audits.
Use them as a starting point, not a substitute for asking questions.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Our sites are designed around this checklist. Anti-ram fencing, ANPR gates, 24/7 monitored CCTV with 30-day retention, lighting on every bay, staffed during operating hours, proper toilets, showers and hot food. We are happy to walk you round before you book.
Call +44 1480 470 114 to arrange a site visit or reserve a bay.