Royal Mail has urged some customers to consider displaying a four-word sign, cautioning that not taking the right steps could result in the company having to "suspend deliveries to your address." And with Easter approaching, which could mean more deliveries for some, it's wise that people act now.
Statistics published on the Royal Mail website on June 30 2025, reveals that attacks on postal workers by dogs rose by 2% during the past year, totalling 2,197 incidents. This works out at roughly 42 attacks weekly across the country, with some delivery staff suffering permanent or life-altering injuries.
To tackle this problem, Royal Mail is promoting straightforward steps that can protect its employees while ensuring continuous delivery services. And One easy fix is a four-word postcard stating "I have a dog."
Customers who get deliveries may get an email like this(Image: Sophie Buchan)
This printable notice informs the delivery worker to pause while you restrain your pet, allowing you sufficient time to secure them in a separate room. Postal staff will wait patiently for you to come to the door.
In correspondence sent to customers, Royal Mail acknowledged that while "receiving your letters and parcels" is important, its priority is "to get these items to you safely, and I'm hoping that you can help me with that."
The letter highlighted a sobering statistic: "Around 2,000 posties like me are injured by dogs each year, both big and small. When this happens, we must inform the Police and suspend deliveries to your address, as we can't take the chance that the dog may attack again."
Requesting public support, Royal Mail has highlighted the following key information:
Please don't open the door until your dog is safely secured
Please put them in another room or behind a gate first and don’t worry, I will wait!
Close gates and doors to stop your dog getting loose.
If you have a back or side garden, please make sure your dog can’t get out and gates and doors are closed
Install a letter box cage as sometimes dogs attack or snatch mail from the letterbox and this can cause serious injuries to postie’s hands, including amputation of fingers, as well as causing injuries to the dog.
Provide an alternative delivery point if you are struggling to do any of the above
High-risk areas in the UK
These are the top postcode areas for dog attacks on postal workers.
1st The S (Sheffield) postcode area experienced a concerning 61% increase in dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers this year, in stark contrast to an 18% decrease the previous year. A total of 66 attacks were reported in 2024/25, up from 41 in 2023/24. Notably, the S postcode area has consistently appeared on every high-risk list for dog attacks since postcode-specific data began being reported. This is the fourth time it has been the most dangerous location for dog attacks.
2nd Dog attacks in the PO (Portsmouth) were marginally down on last year – with 60 attacks compared to 62 for 2023/24 – equating to a 3% drop. The postcode area came in joint top of dangerous locations for dog attacks last year. The PO postcode area has featured in the top, most high-risk areas for dog attacks for eight consecutive years and nine in total since Royal Mail began publishing attack figures.
3rd The TN (Kent/Sussex/Surrey) postcode area recorded a 33% increase in dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers this year, following a 35% decrease in 2023/24. A total of 56 attacks were reported in the latest period, up from 42 the previous year. The TN postcode area has appeared on the list of most dangerous areas for dog attacks for 11 consecutive years and ranked as the most dangerous location for postal workers in 2023/24.
4th This is the second time the GU (Guildford) postcode area has featured on the high-risk list since 19/20. The 54 attacks reported this year show a 29% increase on last year’s 42 incidents. This is the sixth time the postcode area has appeared on the most dangerous locations list for dog attacks since Royal Mail began reporting postcode-specific figures.
5thThe NG (Nottingham) postcode saw 49 dog attacks on postal workers this year. This is a 17% increase on the 42 attacks in 2023/24. This is the fifth consecutive year that the NG postcode area has appeared in the list of most dangerous locations for dog attacks – last year it was the 6th most unsafe location in the UK for dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers. The postcode area has featured in the high-risk locations nine times since Royal Mail began reporting postcode-specific figures.
6th The CM (Chelmsford) and BN (Brighton) postcode areas are the joint sixth highest-risk locations with 47 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location.
The BN (Brighton) postcode area recorded 47 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers this year—a slight 2% decrease from the 48 incidents reported in 2023/24. This marks the ninth consecutive year the BN area has appeared on the high-risk list since Royal Mail began publishing location-specific data. It ranked fourth-highest in risk last year and was the most dangerous location for dog attacks in 2021.
The CM (Chelmsford) postcode area has appeared on the high-risk list for dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers three times since location-specific data was first published. It was first listed in 2018/19, when 38 attacks were reported, and again in 2019/20 with 44 incidents.
7th The BT (Belfast) and NE (Newcastle) postcode areas are the seventh joint highest-risk locations with 45 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location.
The BT (Belfast) postcode area saw a 27% drop in dog attacks this year compared to 62 incidents reported in 2023/24. Last year the postcode area was the 2nd most dangerous place for attacks. The BT postcode area has appeared in every dog attack hot-spot list since Royal Mail began releasing location specific date in 2013. It has been the most dangerous location for attacks five times.
8th This is the second time the SN (Swindon) postcode area has featured in the most high-risk locations. This year saw 44 attacks reported, a 10% increase on the 40 incidents in 2022/23.
9th The DN (Doncaster) postcode area has appeared on Royal Mail’s dog attack hot-spot list for the first time since location-specific data began being published in 2013. In the most recent reporting year, 42 attacks on postal workers were recorded—an increase of 31% compared to the 32 incidents reported in 2023/24.
10th The ST (Staffordshire) postcode area has entered Royal Mail’s list of most dangerous areas for the first time. This year, 40 dog attacks on postal workers were reported—a 33% rise from the 30 incidents recorded in 2023/24.
Royal Mail and dog attacks
Lizz Lloyd, Health & Safety Director at Royal Mail, said: "Dog attacks remain one of the most significant safety risks faced by postal workers. In many cases, these incidents result in serious injuries, emotional distress, and time away from work. Royal Mail continues to call on the public to be vigilant and responsible by securing their pets before opening the door to receive mail or packages.
"We continue to invest in safety training and awareness campaigns for both employees and the public, but emphasise that community cooperation is essential to reducing these incidents."
