CRIME in York car parks has fallen by more than 50 per cent in the last five years.

Figures released by City of York Council have revealed the number of attacks on vehicles has been cut from 249 in 2000 to 118 in 2004.

The information is published in City of York Council's annual progress report, which provides information about transport in the city and is submitted to the Government every year as part of the Local Transport Plan initiative.

The report was released as Monks Cross Park&Ride car park was handed a safety award. The Huntington site was awarded the coveted Safety Badge for its high security standards.

The car park boasts CCTV, 24 hour lighting and is staffed between 7am and 8.30pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10am until 6.30pm on Sundays.

The incidence of car crime is less than one reported incident per 20,000 car movements. Grimston Bar and Rawcliffe Bar Park&Ride sites already have the award.

The news came as Operation Cobra entered its fourth month. The campaign, which aims to drive down car crime, was backed by the Evening Press at its launch in April.

York police area commander Tim Madgwick, who presented the certificate to parking chiefs, said the award reflected a "combined endeavour".

He said: "There is a great deal of preparation, planning and effort invested by a number of agencies in achieving this exemplary standard, and this prestigious award very much reflects a combined endeavour.

"Reducing vehicle crime is one of our current priorities under Operation Cobra and it is enormously satisfying to proclaim another site as very low risk to users."

Gwilym Thomas, from the council's Park&Ride team, said: "Safety within our car parks is a priority for the council and significant improvements have been made over the past few years to improve the sites. Cars and people are much safer as a consequence of the council's investment in CCTV."

PC Jim Shanks, who was involved in the design of the car park, said: "The criteria for the Safer Parking Award now include a 'safe and non-threatening environment to users' and I am confident that this has been achieved at Monks Cross."

Coun Ann Reid, the council's planning and transport chief, said: "We are delighted that the city's latest Park&Ride site has received the safer parking award.

"Users of Park&Ride need to be confident that their car will still be in the car park, undamaged, when they return from a visit to the city centre and this award gives them that confidence."

Updated: 10:08 Friday, July 15, 2005