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SUSSEX was the worst area for dog attacks on postal workers in the last year.
Sixty five posties were bitten in the BN postcode in the 12 months up to March.
BN covers Brighton and Hove and parts of East and West Sussex including Eastbourne, Lewes, and Worthing.
Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) health and safety officer Dave Joyce said dog attacks are “a major concern” for postal workers.
He said: “Seven postal workers are attacked by dogs every working day of the year,which is unacceptable.
“Worryingly there were a number of very serious dog attacks on postal workers in both Royal Mail delivery and Parcelforce delivery over this past year.
“Some of them could easily have ended in fatalities if it wasn’t for the intervention of the owners and good Samaritans.”
Glynn Page, a postman in East Sussex, had his hand ripped open by a dog. After parking his van in the driveway of a customer’s house, the animal ran out of the side gate and locked on to his hand.
Mr Page was pushed to the ground and had to be helped by the dog’s owner.
He underwent several operations to repair the damage.
Mr Joyce said he wanted dog owners to work with officers to prevent these attacks.
He said: “Dog owning customers are failing in their responsibility to postal workers by simply securing their dogs before opening the door.
“As a result, too many dog attacks occur, with 82 per cent of these on the doorstep or garden path.
“This must stop. We want dog owners to work with us and support postal workers who they rely on to deliver their goods.”
Royal Mail safety director Dr Shaun Davis said the number of attacks is still “unacceptably high”.
He said: “What is concerning is that the number of dog attacks on postmen and women has risen across the country by nine per cent since last year.
“Dog owners need to be even more vigilant.”
Other postcode areas in Sussex had a spate of attacks. The PO area, which includes Bognor and Chichester, had 48 incidents between March 2018 and March 2019.
RH, which covers Crawley, Horsham, and Burgess Hill, also had 48 attacks in the same period.
A CWU spokesman suggested a tips to prevent dog attacks.
He said: “Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or woman arrives. Give your dog some food or a toy to occupy them while your mail is being delivered.
“Wait ten minutes after your mail has arrived to let your pet back into your hallway.”
