Alleged Theft - Fact Findinf

[Welshy26]

Hi,
I am hoping you can give me some advice pls?

I have been suspended for almost a week and a half now, as I have been accused of theft.

A tracked was for delivery on my round and a week later it was found on my day off empty with the contents missing in my van. I have never seen the parcel, and it is for a memorable customer who I delivered a parcel to in the meantime of this one going ''missing'
The parcel was handed into my manager on the Friday, I then worked the Friday and they allowed me to work the Saturday unaware and suspended me on the following Monday.
I have worked for RM for nearly 30 years and have an excellent work conduct, never been in trouble previous. This has broken me. I love my job, I wouldn't steal. I just don't understand how this has happened.
Person who found the empty packet hasn't been there long and isn't under investigation but I feel he should be, he had access to the van just as much as I did.
There's no evidence I even had the parcel to deliver in the first place?

They've refused my daughter to come and meet with my union rep, I know she can't come to the meeting itself, apparently she can't enter Royal Mail premises?

How do I get through this? I'm an honest hardworking man, and this isn't something I would have done.

[Sir Henry]

So you haven't had contact with your rep yet? get onto the area rep or HQ to arrange Union advice.

Can you involve the police yourself! May be it would take it out of the hands of the IB and make it more open and above board, not that RM aren't scrupulously fair and employment law isn't an utter con.

Consult a solicitor?

[weary_posty]

It's worth remembering with these situations that it is down to them to prove your guilt, not you to prove you're innocent.

Just try to stay calm and be totally honest. Speak with your local rep. He/she will be able to assist you where possible.

Good luck

[meercat]

From what you have posted they have NO grounds to suspect you over someone else. Tell them you are being discriminated against and that is illegal and they need to reinstate you with immediate effect OR suspend EVERYONE who could have stolen this packet - which would INCLUDE the guy who found the empty wrapper.

[Welshy26]

So you haven't had contact with your rep yet? get onto the area rep or HQ to arrange Union advice.

Can you involve the police yourself! May be it would take it out of the hands of the IB and make it more open and above board, not that RM aren't scrupulously fair and employment law isn't an utter con.

Consult a solicitor?

I don't know. I told them to get the police involved and the said they wouldn't as it is a civil matter. The union rep in our office is a friend/colleague of 25 years. It's very difficult. I have another rep coming with me Thursday but he refuses to meet with me and my daughter (who's a HR manager)

[Welshy26]

From what you have posted they have NO grounds to suspect you over someone else. Tell them you are being discriminated against and that is illegal and they need to reinstate you with immediate effect OR suspend EVERYONE who could have stolen this packet - which would INCLUDE the guy who found the empty wrapper.

They have named me as the duty owner of the van, I take the van home every night as do a lot of men in my office whic management have agreed. But sadly this does not go in my favour. My van was in the yard from Thursday-Friday afternoon when I came back in on afternoon overtime (Friday was my rest day)

[Sir Henry]

Hmm this stinks. Ask the rep why he won't meet with your daughter present. Ask if anyone else can attend. Why your old mate isn't stepping up to the plate to help only you know. Personally I wouldn't rely on reps alone as even with the best will in the world they're only as good as the support they get from above and that is in short supply. Consult a solicitor, don't believe any of the s**t management tell you, civil matter or not it's your job and reputation on the line and a gold star for management if a thirty year man goes without a payoff.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

It's worth remembering with these situations that it is down to them to prove your guilt, not you to prove you're innocent.

Just try to stay calm and be totally honest. Speak with your local rep. He/she will be able to assist you where possible.

Good luck

Actually royal mail don't even need to prove that, they can dismiss you and would win an employment tribunal if they can show reasonable believe, they actually don't even need to prove who stole it or even if it was stolen to be able to dismiss over it

[Welshy26]

Hmm this stinks. Ask the rep why he won't meet with your daughter present. Ask if anyone else can attend. Why your old mate isn't stepping up to the plate to help only you know. Personally I wouldn't rely on reps alone as even with the best will in the world they're only as good as the support they get from above and that is in short supply. Consult a solicitor, don't believe any of the s**t management tell you, civil matter or not it's your job and reputation on the line and a gold star for management if a thirty year man goes without a payoff.

I have been to see a solicitor, he told me a few things and has said I have a good case should it end in dismissal but u know what I don't want to get to that. I haven't done anything and have never been in trouble before, so why should I be dismissed?

My manager told me that he can't take into account I've been there30 years, with excellent conduct. Apparently
That's sentimental and he's going on facts which the solicitor told me is rubbish and that it has to be discussed.

He said my daughter can't come on to the Royal Mail premises. That was it.

[Welshy26]

It's worth remembering with these situations that it is down to them to prove your guilt, not you to prove you're innocent.

Just try to stay calm and be totally honest. Speak with your local rep. He/she will be able to assist you where possible.

Good luck

Actually royal mail don't even need to prove that, they can dismiss you and would win an employment tribunal if they can show reasonable believe, they actually don't even need to prove who stole it or even if it was stolen to be able to dismiss over it

I appreciate what you are saying.

However there is no evidence that I even had the parcel to begin with. It's all assumptions.

[noggin1969]

I would say the " facts " go in your favour , after 30 yrs of service would even the most stupid of thieves take something directly traceable to them then leave the evidence in an easier findable place which traces directly back to them. Ask if there is any CCTV footage of you receiving the package. https://www.gov.uk/request-cctv-footage-of-yourself" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . You can ask to see it under the DPA but however if RM intend to prosecute they can refuse.

[Sir Henry]

Hmm this stinks. Ask the rep why he won't meet with your daughter present. Ask if anyone else can attend. Why your old mate isn't stepping up to the plate to help only you know. Personally I wouldn't rely on reps alone as even with the best will in the world they're only as good as the support they get from above and that is in short supply. Consult a solicitor, don't believe any of the s**t management tell you, civil matter or not it's your job and reputation on the line and a gold star for management if a thirty year man goes without a payoff.

I have been to see a solicitor, he told me a few things and has said I have a good case should it end in dismissal but u know what I don't want to get to that. I haven't done anything and have never been in trouble before, so why should I be dismissed?

My manager told me that he can't take into account I've been there30 years, with excellent conduct. Apparently
That's sentimental and he's going on facts which the solicitor told me is rubbish and that it has to be discussed.

He said my daughter can't come on to the Royal Mail premises. That was it.

RM won't want the police involved until they have investigated and come up with a neat little package of 'evidence' that they can drop in the polices lap. Mr policeman then thinks to himself, ooooh they've done the leg work for me lets go with this. If the police got involved from the get go you'd be suspended, they'd thoroughly investigate and that could take up to a year with you on full pay and RM mightn't get the result they want which is a nice easy quick result and be out of pocket.

The screws might say they can't take 30 yrs of excellent conduct into account but you can bet the f***ers would be trumpeting any suspensions or conduct codes against you from the rooftops whether they were allowed to or not.

[daveyeff]

It's worth remembering with these situations that it is down to them to prove your guilt, not you to prove you're innocent.

Just try to stay calm and be totally honest. Speak with your local rep. He/she will be able to assist you where possible.

Good luck

Actually royal mail don't even need to prove that, they can dismiss you and would win an employment tribunal if they can show reasonable believe, they actually don't even need to prove who stole it or even if it was stolen to be able to dismiss over it

this being the case, then what's to stop them 'stitching' ANYONE up they wanted rid of? stick an empty tracked parcel in anyone's van and say you nicked it. if they don't need to prove it then you're gone.

[DB1100]

It's worth remembering with these situations that it is down to them to prove your guilt, not you to prove you're innocent.

Just try to stay calm and be totally honest. Speak with your local rep. He/she will be able to assist you where possible.

Good luck

Actually royal mail don't even need to prove that, they can dismiss you and would win an employment tribunal if they can show reasonable believe, they actually don't even need to prove who stole it or even if it was stolen to be able to dismiss over it

this being the case, then what's to stop them 'stitching' ANYONE up they wanted rid of? stick an empty tracked parcel in anyone's van and say you nicked it. if they don't need to prove it then you're gone.

That's the worrying thing,so easy for them to get rid of us,the police do it often enough.

[daveyeff]

From what you have posted they have NO grounds to suspect you over someone else. Tell them you are being discriminated against and that is illegal and they need to reinstate you with immediate effect OR suspend EVERYONE who could have stolen this packet - which would INCLUDE the guy who found the empty wrapper.

They have named me as the duty owner of the van, I take the van home every night as do a lot of men in my office whic management have agreed. But sadly this does not go in my favour. My van was in the yard from Thursday-Friday afternoon when I came back in on afternoon overtime (Friday was my rest day)

but it was a week later so it could've been anytime or anybody in that week. plus if you'd nicked it you would hardly be going to leave the empty box in you're van. its a stitch up.