POSTIE SUSPENDED OVER MISSING MAIL

[TrueBlueTerrier]

STUART ABEL HERALD REPORTER

http://tinyurl.com/278y48

06:50 - 13 September 2007

The royal Mail has suspended a postman and apologised to customers after 3,000 letters went missing for up to six months.Bosses at the West Park delivery office launched a security investigation which led to a quantity of mail intended for the Foulston Avenue area of Barne Barton being recovered. All of the post has now been delivered.

A spokeswoman said the Royal Mail had a "zero tolerance" policy to anyone who 'mistreated the mail' and had suspended a postal delivery worker. It is not known whether the postie is male or female.

One householder said he had eight letters dating back to June delivered in one batch on Saturday.

The Royal Mail spokeswoman said that 3,000 items of stamped mail and some advertising leaflets had been recovered. None appear to have been opened.

She added: "We would like to apologise to customers.

"The vast majority of postmen and women are honest, hard-working and are committed to providing the very highest standards of service to customers. Where there is any suggestion that an individual or individuals have mistreated the mail, the Royal Mail takes a zero tolerance approach and will take immediate and appropriate action."

Plymouth postwoman Lisa Harvey was last year sent to prison for 12 months for willfully delaying the delivery of Royal Mail following the discovery of tons of undelivered post at her home.

A total of 111,383 undelivered items were found at her home in Penlee Place, Mutley, and in her car, including 17,554 sealed letters and packages, 8,322 items which had been opened and 85,322 items which could be classed as junk mail.

Plymouth resident Jack Ford said he had lost items of mail because of her crime and also in the latest incident at two separate addresses.

Mr Ford, of Kit Hill Crescent, said important letters for his family including bank statements and vehicle registration documents had been delayed. They all arrived in one batch on Saturday with no explanation from the Royal Mail.

He added: "This is not the first time it has happened and I had to ring up the West Park office to get any kind of explanation."

Mr Ford, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, feared that some mail, including letters for hospital appointments could still be missing.