Royal Mail has issued recommendation to assist maintain workers protected
Royal Mail is encouraging households to take precautions(Image: martinrlee by way of Getty Images)
Royal Mail is urging prospects to display 11 phrases in their windows to assist maintain postal staff protected, following an increase in canine assaults on supply workers. According to Royal Mail, greater than 2,000 staff are attacked by canines every year, with many incidents occurring at entrance doors or by letterboxes.
In response, the organisation is encouraging households with dogs to take precautions together with displaying warnings for postal staff on entrance doors and windows.
A printable postcard accessible on the Royal Mail web site reads: “I HAVE A DOG. Please wait whilst I secure my dog before opening the door”.
The sign could be downloaded without spending a dime and ought to be caught someplace that might be seen throughout supply. Customers can even make their very own “I have a dog” sign.
Royal Mail has assured prospects that postal staff are at all times keen to wait whereas canines are secured in one other room or behind a gate.
According to the Royal Mail, accidents to postal staff can embody critical bites to fingers by letterboxes and additionally assaults from canines which escape from homes or gardens when postal workers arrive.
Statistics printed on the Royal Mail web site in June 2025, revealed that attacks on postal workers by canines rose by 2% in the course of 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.
Dog attacks aren’t solely harmful however may additionally consequence in companies to your address being suspended. Royal Mail stated: “Around 2,000 posties like me are injured by dogs each year, both big and small. When this happens, we must inform the police and suspend deliveries to your address, as we can’t take the chance that the dog may attack again.”
As properly as displaying the sign, canine homeowners are inspired to guarantee their pets are stored properly away earlier than answering the door, ideally in one other room.
For properties with again or aspect gardens, gates ought to be closed to stop canines from reaching the entrance of the home throughout a supply.
It can also be steered that distracting canines with meals or a toy whereas mail is being delivered may scale back agitation.
To stop canines attacking mail and postal staff’ fingers by the letterbox, wire letterbox cages could be put in across the letterbox on the within of the door.
Dog homeowners may additionally match another mailbox on the fringe of the property, away from the place any canines might be.
