Royal Mail has issued advice to dog owners that they could face legal action if they are not careful.
On its website, under “legal protections,” it says it has secured stronger legal safeguards against dog attacks. It also points to High Court rulings confirming that postal workers are not trespassing when delivering mail, meaning owners can still be held liable if a dog attacks through the letterbox.
Royal Mail explains: “Following changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act in England and Wales that came into force in May 2014, Royal Mail has carried out over 30 private prosecutions against dog owners.
“This has punished offenders and further raised awareness. It is hoped that these actions will prevent further attacks by forcing owners to put in place control measures to ensure a dog does not attack again.
“We have also successfully launched two actions in the High Court that settled the law in relation to the criminal liability of dog owners when postal workers have their fingers bitten while posting items through a letterbox.
“These cases clarified the law in regard to whether fingers inserted through a letter box amounted to a trespass and thus gave the householder a potential defence.
“The Court held that, provided it was for the purpose of posting mail, no trespass was committed. In summing up, the judge mentioned that a cage being fitted would go some way to preventing some of the terrible injuries suffered by our colleagues.”
It has recommended a number of actions to take before the postie gets there – and even says people should follow a 10-minute rule after it’s been delivered.
Postal workers are not trespassing when they deliver mail, so homeowners cannot use trespassing as a defence. If a dog bites a postal worker’s fingers through the letterbox, the owner can still be held criminally liable.
Dog owners whose pets tend to attack mail should consider fitting a wire letter receptacle. This helps protect mail and parcels, as well as the postman or postwoman’s fingers.
In its tips for owners, Royal Mail suggests: “If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman or postwoman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.”
Lizz Lloyd, Health & Safety Director at Royal Mail, said: “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 continue to invest in safety training and awareness campaigns for both employees and the public, but emphasise that community cooperation is essential to reducing these incidents.”
