Harrow estate has Royal Mail services stopped after 'postman threatened with knife'

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Residents of a West London estate have seen their Royal Mail deliveries stopped after a postman was threatened with a knife, the Commons has heard.

Conservative MP Bob Blackman told colleagues that locals are required to visit a depot to collect their post following the incident in his Harrow East constituency.

Mr Blackman expressed his astonishment at having received a letter from Royal Mail highlighting what had happened.

He said: "I was shocked yesterday to receive a letter from the Royal Mail informing me that no mail would now be delivered to one estate in my constituency and that the residents would have to go to the Royal Mail depot to collect their post.

"The reason for this is the postie that delivers that part of the round was threatened with a knife at his throat on the estate, and as a result the Royal Mail has withdrawn postal services.

"Can we have a debate or a statement in Government time on the threats our posties face in carrying out their duty to the wider public?"

'Appalling'

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom replied: "Well, you are raising a really concerning case.

"That's appalling to hear that a post worker would be threatened with a knife in that way - that's absolutely appalling when they're trying to go about doing their best giving a good service to all residents."

However, Ms Leadsom commented that the decision seemed "very harsh" to residents.

She said: "It equally seems very harsh on those residents in that estate to have the entire postal service withdrawn.

"I would encourage (Mr Blackman) to perhaps raise the question directly on March 19 at BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) questions or perhaps to write a parliamentary written question to BEIS to ask them what more can be done."