Royal Mail has urged some properties to act as quickly as they’ll to get their deliveries on time
Acting now might help defend your native postie(Image: martinrlee by way of Getty Images)
Royal Mail has urged some clients to think about displaying a four-word sign, cautioning that not taking the precise steps might outcome within the firm having to “droop deliveries to your deal with.” And with Easter approaching, which might imply extra deliveries for some, it is sensible that people act now.
Statistics printed on the Royal Mail web site on June 30 2025, reveals that assaults on postal employees by dogs rose by 2% through the previous yr, totalling 2,197 incidents. This works out at roughly 42 assaults weekly throughout the nation, with some supply workers struggling everlasting or life-altering accidents.
To sort out this downside, Royal Mail is selling simple steps that may defend its staff whereas guaranteeing steady supply companies. And One straightforward repair is a four-word postcard stating “I’ve a dog.”
This printable discover informs the supply employee to pause whilst you restrain your pet, permitting you adequate time to safe them in a separate room. Postal workers will wait patiently for you to come to the door.
In correspondence despatched to clients, Royal Mail acknowledged that whereas “receiving your letters and parcels” is vital, its precedence is “to get these items to you safely, and I’m hoping that you can help me with that.”
The letter highlighted a sobering statistic: “Around 2,000 posties like me are injured by dogs annually, each massive and small. When this occurs, we should inform the Police and droop deliveries to your deal with, as we will not take the possibility that the canine might assault once more.”
Requesting public assist, Royal Mail has highlighted the next key info:
- Please do not open the door till your canine is safely secured
- Please put them in one other room or behind a gate first and don’t fear, I’ll wait!
- Close gates and doors to cease your canine getting free.
- If you have got a again or facet backyard, please be certain your canine can’t get out and gates and doors are closed
- Install a letter field cage as typically canines assault or snatch mail from the letterbox and this may trigger critical accidents to postie’s fingers, together with amputation of fingers, in addition to inflicting accidents to the canine.
- Provide an alternate supply level in case you are struggling to do any of the above
High-risk areas within the UK
These are the highest postcode areas for canine assaults on postal employees.
1stThe S (Sheffield) postcode space skilled a regarding 61% enhance in canine assaults on Royal Mail postal employees this yr, in stark distinction to an 18% lower the earlier yr. A complete of 66 assaults had been reported in 2024/25, up from 41 in 2023/24. Notably, the S postcode space has persistently appeared on each high-risk listing for canine assaults since postcode-specific information started being reported. This is the fourth time it has been probably the most harmful location for canine assaults.
2nd Dog assaults within the PO (Portsmouth) had been marginally down on final yr – with 60 assaults in contrast to 62 for 2023/24 – equating to a 3% drop. The postcode space got here joint high of harmful areas for canine assaults final yr. The PO postcode space has featured within the high, most high-risk areas for canine assaults for eight consecutive years and 9 in whole since Royal Mail started publishing assault figures.
third The TN (Kent/Sussex/Surrey) postcode space recorded a 33% enhance in canine assaults on Royal Mail postal employees this yr, following a 35% lower in 2023/24. A complete of 56 assaults had been reported within the newest interval, up from 42 the earlier yr. The TN postcode space has appeared on the listing of most harmful areas for canine assaults for 11 consecutive years and ranked as probably the most harmful location for postal employees in 2023/24.
4th This is the second time the GU (Guildford) postcode space has featured on the high-risk listing since 19/20. The 54 assaults reported this yr present a 29% enhance on final yr’s 42 incidents. This is the sixth time the postcode space has appeared on probably the most harmful areas listing for canine assaults since Royal Mail started reporting postcode-specific figures.
fifthThe NG (Nottingham) postcode noticed 49 canine assaults on postal employees this yr. This is a 17% enhance on the 42 assaults in 2023/24. This is the fifth consecutive yr that the NG postcode space has appeared within the listing of most harmful areas for canine assaults – final yr it was the sixth most unsafe location within the UK for canine assaults on Royal Mail postal employees. The postcode space has featured within the high-risk areas 9 occasions since Royal Mail started reporting postcode-specific figures.
sixth The CM (Chelmsford) and BN (Brighton) postcode areas are the joint sixth highest-risk areas with 47 canine assaults on Royal Mail postal employees reported in every location.
The BN (Brighton) postcode space recorded 47 canine assaults on Royal Mail postal employees this yr—a slight 2% lower from the 48 incidents reported in 2023/24. This marks the ninth consecutive yr the BN space has appeared on the high-risk listing since Royal Mail started publishing location-specific information. It ranked fourth-highest in danger final yr and was probably the most harmful location for canine assaults in 2021.
The CM (Chelmsford) postcode space has appeared on the high-risk listing for canine assaults on Royal Mail postal employees 3 times since location-specific information was first printed. It was first listed in 2018/19, when 38 assaults had been reported, and once more in 2019/20 with 44 incidents.
seventh The BT (Belfast) and NE (Newcastle) postcode areas are the seventh joint highest-risk areas with 45 canine assaults on Royal Mail postal employees reported in every location.
The BT (Belfast) postcode space noticed a 27% drop in canine assaults this yr in contrast to 62 incidents reported in 2023/24. Last yr the postcode space was the 2nd most harmful place for assaults. The BT postcode space has appeared in each canine assault hot-spot listing since Royal Mail started releasing location particular date in 2013. It has been probably the most harmful location for assaults 5 occasions.
eighth This is the second time the SN (Swindon) postcode space has featured in probably the most high-risk areas. This yr noticed 44 assaults reported, a ten% enhance on the 40 incidents in 2022/23.
ninth The DN (Doncaster) postcode space has appeared on Royal Mail’s canine assault hot-spot listing for the primary time since location-specific information started being printed in 2013. In the latest reporting yr, 42 assaults on postal employees had been recorded—a rise of 31% in contrast to the 32 incidents reported in 2023/24.
tenth The ST (Staffordshire) postcode space has entered Royal Mail’s listing of most harmful areas for the primary time. This yr, 40 canine assaults on postal employees had been reported—a 33% rise from the 30 incidents recorded in 2023/24.
Royal Mail and canine assaults
Lizz Lloyd, Health & Safety Director at Royal Mail, stated: “Dog attacks remain one of the most significant safety risks faced by postal workers. In many cases, these incidents result in serious injuries, emotional distress, and time away from work. Royal Mail continues to call on the public to be vigilant and responsible by securing their pets before opening the door to receive mail or packages.
“We proceed to put money into security coaching and consciousness campaigns for each staff and the general public, however emphasise that group cooperation is crucial to lowering these incidents.”
