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Postal workers have urged the government to tackle the dog violence “epidemic” they say is a major safety risk. The Communication Workers Union (CWU), the union for postal workers, wants the government to “toughen up” and improve police enforcement as well as court penalties.
The union went on to describe recent levels of dog attacks as a national crisis and a huge concern among postal workers on the “frontline”. In May, alarming data showed dog attacks have surged across the West Midlands over the last few years.
Figures released by West Midlands Police revealed a worrying trend, with dangerous dog incidents climbing year-on-year. There were 1,092 offences recorded in 2022 – around three every day on average – where a dog was dangerously out of control and injured a person or assistance dog.
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Issuing a statement during Dog Awareness Week, CWU National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce said he was very concerned about the UK’s dog attack epidemic. He said: “Dog attacks remain a major safety hazard and concern for postal workers across the UK, and the scale of the problem shouldn’t be underestimated.
“I have called on the UK government and the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to discuss what more can be done to toughen up the Dog Control Laws and improve police enforcement and court penalties – such is my concern. The key objectives of Dog Awareness Week are primarily to remind the public to be aware of their legal and moral responsibilities to control their dogs and prevent dog attacks on postal workers who are providing them with a great public service.
“The public need to be aware that if their dog attacks a postal worker, they will be prosecuted either by the police, local authority or by Royal Mail via a private prosecution. We are again calling on customers who are dog owners to work with us and help stop this by putting their animals in a safe place before opening the door to postal workers and fit a letterbox cage or outside mail box if their dog attacks the mail when it arrives through the front door.
He continued: “The unacceptably high prevalence, scale and volume of dog attacks, plus the impact on victims – which can be life changing – is nothing less than a national crisis. Our second message to all postal workers remains: be vigilant, keep safe, take no risks, don’t enter properties where dogs are running lose, don’t put fingers through the letterbox, don’t assume a dog won’t bite as any dog can be aggressive, don’t accept an owners’ word that their dog will not bite, and report all dog attack incidents and near misses.”
