Royal Mail Launched ‘Safe Place’ – A Way for Residents To Inform Posties Where to Delivery Packages Safely While Not Home

Royal Mail has launched a new ‘Safe Place’ delivery option in their mobile app, allowing customers to specify where they would like parcels left when they are not home.

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The Safe Place feature enables recipients to tell their postie in advance where to safely leave an item if they are out when delivery is attempted. This applies to any parcels that do not require a signature and are too large to fit through a standard letterbox.

Customers can select from common safe place options like a porch, shed, or garage. The app also includes a free text field, so users can provide more specific instructions, such as “behind the potted plant.”

Once set, the Safe Place preference will be applied to all eligible deliveries going forward, without the need to provide instructions each time. Royal Mail says this will give customers more control and convenience.

The rollout of Safe Place comes as porch piracy is on the rise across the UK. Data from delivery firm Metapack shows claims for stolen packages increased 59% in the 12 months leading up to June 2022.

While the feature can’t prevent every theft, it allows customers to choose less obvious drop points to help deter criminals.

Nick Landon, Royal Mail’s Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “[Posties] deliver to every house in the UK so frequently, no-one knows better where their customers like parcels to be left if they are not in than a postie. Now we’re making that delivery service even better by giving everyone the ability to record their favorite safe place on the Royal Mail app.”

He added that this is just the beginning, and Royal Mail is working on additional features like linking deliveries to a neighbor’s address or selecting options for those with accessibility needs.

The Safe Place delivery settings can be configured in the ‘My Account’ section of the Royal Mail mobile app, which is available for free on iOS and Android devices. The feature is live now for all app users.