Postal workers reported 1,600 dog attacks last year

More than 1,600 dog attacks on postal workers have been reported in the past year, new Royal Mail figures reveal.

The figures show that on average there were 32 attacks reported every week across the UK.

Sheffield had the most incidents reported during the year to 31 March, with 51 postal workers suffering dog attacks, followed by Belfast (50), and Tunbridge Wells (44). The Brighton, Nottingham, and Swansea postcode areas each saw 37 dog attacks on Royal Mail’s delivery staff, while the Newcastle and Oxford postcode areas saw 35 each. A total of 34 were recorded in the Portsmouth postcode area, while the Exeter postcode had 32 reports.

As in previous years, the majority of dog attacks, 654 (39%), took place at the front door. A further 498 (30%) dog attacks took place in the garden or on the driveway, 387 injuries (23%) were suffered through letterboxes, while 134 (8%) took place in the street or road.

However, the total number of attacks dropped 1% from 2020/2021, making it the second year running Royal Mail has reported a reduction in dog attacks on its staff. The year 2020/2021 saw a 31% decline as a result of contact-free deliveries during the pandemic.

Dave Joyce, National Health & Safety Officer of the Communication Workers’ Union, said: “Dog attacks remain a major safety hazard and concern for postmen and women across the UK and the scale of the problem shouldn’t be underestimated.”