Posties bitten by dogs more often because of boom in parcel orders, says expert

Postmen are being attacked by dogs more often amid a boom in the number of parcels being delivered to households, according to an expert.

Royal Mail has said that dog bites were up by 15 per cent, with more than 2,206 incidents in the year ending March 2024.

The new figure equates to an average of 42 attacks each week across the UK, with some leading to permanent and debilitating injuries, Royal Mail said.

Almost half of dog attacks (49 per cent) took place at the front door, with 26 per cent of overall incidents occurring in the garden. About 18 per cent of attacks on postal workers were nips through the letterbox.

Prof Carri Westgarth, a senior lecturer in human-animal interaction at the University of Liverpool, said the surge in the number of attacks could be explained by an increase in the number of parcels being delivered to homes.

She told The Telegraph: “Dog bites appear to be rising and bites happen for many reasons, but increased bites to delivery workers are likely due to us receiving more parcels these days, meaning we need to open the door more frequently.”

Parcel volumes have increased to 3.6 billion in 2023, up from 2.6 billion in 2019, according to Ofcom data.

Prof Westgarth said that the rising level of dog owners in recent years could also explain the growing number of incidents.

She said: “ It is also likely partly due to increasing numbers of dogs, but perhaps also changes in who owns them and how we interact with them in society.”

There are approximately 13.5 million pet dogs in the UK, according to a UK Pet Food’s report.

According to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, 3.2 million UK households purchased a pet during lockdown.

Dog attacks on Royal Mail staff resulted in more than 2,273 days of absence in 2023-24 with the longest period of sick leave being 197 days.

‘Keep dogs under control’

The postal service is appealing to dog owners to ensure they understand the impact of attacks and called on them to take measures to ensure their pets pose no threat.

Lizz Lloyd, the health and safety director at Royal Mail, said: “We are saddened and disappointed to see attacks on our staff continue to increase.

“Dog attacks have a devastating effect on our people, and we are appealing to dog owners to think twice when the postman calls. All dog attacks can have life-changing consequences for victims, even when the physical injury is not significant.

“Almost half of attacks happen at the front door and over a quarter in the front garden, so this is not just a Royal Mail issue, many other organisations face the same problem.”

Royal Mail said all new starters are taken through comprehensive training which includes advice on how to avoid dog attacks. They are also given annual refresher courses.

Among a raft of tips and advice it suggests staff should “defend yourself against a dog bite using your delivery equipment, such as your pouch or trolley, or parcel to create a physical barrier between you and the dog”.

They are also told not to put their fingers through letterboxes or enter a garden if a dog is present.

Dave Joyce, the national health and safety officer at the Communication Workers’ Union, said: “Dog bite incidents and severe dog attacks are continuing to experience a very concerning increase and upwards trend across the UK and that constitutes a growing risk and occupational safety and health problems for postal workers.

“The public need to be aware that if their dog attacks a postal worker, they can be prosecuted.”