Report Calls For New Protection For Postal Workers

Postal workers attacked by dogs are given “inadequate” protection by the law, a new report says.

The report, commissioned by Royal Mail, recommends a change in law to help deal with the owners of dogs who attack, highlighting that currently action cannot be taken if an attack takes place on private property.

The number of attacks ranges from Royal Mail's figure of 3,000 a year to the 5,000 suggested by the workers' union.

The Communication Workers Union welcomed the report, saying it backed moves to get serious on punishment.

In his report, former High Court judge Sir Gordon Langley says current laws limited the legal protection available to postmen and women.

Sir Gordon said: "It is a matter of real concern to learn of the extent and frequency of attacks on postal workers and to find that for a considerable time there has been almost general agreement, not only on the inadequacies of the present law in England and Wales, but also on the nature of the reforms required to address it, but to date it remains unchanged."

Royal Mail said it would act immediately to change its policy towards owners of dogs who attack, to make it more "robust".

(H)