Letter Box Collections

[Pompey Boy]

I'm a Portsmouth Postman/Driver. Our vans are tracked, test letters are put in boxes, we can be followed by managers or IB, timed in and out etc etc. We are told that if IB find us with mail or collection keys in the front of the van or if we dont lock up at post boxes or keep the engine running we could be out. But when I go to other towns/citys to follow Pompey I see loads of collection drivers who do all of these things! They obviuosly dont have the IB threat, so why do we at Pompey? Any thoughts?

[Lounge Lizard]

I'm a Portsmouth Postman/Driver. Our vans are tracked, test letters are put in boxes, we can be followed by managers or IB, timed in and out etc etc. We are told that if IB find us with mail or collection keys in the front of the van or if we dont lock up at post boxes or keep the engine running we could be out. But when I go to other towns/citys to follow Pompey I see loads of collection drivers who do all of these things! They obviuosly dont have the IB threat, so why do we at Pompey? Any thoughts?

It's because Portsmouth, said to be the second most deprived city in Britain, has one of the highest rates of van theft in the country.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I'm a Portsmouth Postman/Driver. Our vans are tracked, test letters are put in boxes, we can be followed by managers or IB, timed in and out etc etc. We are told that if IB find us with mail or collection keys in the front of the van or if we dont lock up at post boxes or keep the engine running we could be out. But when I go to other towns/citys to follow Pompey I see loads of collection drivers who do all of these things! They obviuosly dont have the IB threat, so why do we at Pompey? Any thoughts?

Actually I think everyone is under the same threat as can be evidenced by the stories we get on here of sacked collection posties who left the door open and engine running only for it to be nicked.

The other collections you see are taking a chance with their employment and are taking huge risks just to save a few seconds at each collection, more especially if the IB decide to target their area at some point. I would keep on doing the job right in the secure knowledge that if you are then your job is safe.

[Pompey Boy]

I guess so, but look at doctors, the police, nurses etc. All of these people can make mistakes which sometimes result in death, but we can make a small mistake and get sacked for it!

With the things I've already mentioned, longer collection routes, more packets from fewer Post Offices (often at the back of a shop) and having to maintain a 20MPH average speed in an area with 20MPH limits our lot is not a happy one.

Anyway, back to the IB. Can anyone post some info about who they are, where they are based, how they work etc? Everyone just goes silent at Pompey when the IB are mentioned!!

[Pompey Boy]

seems to have worked here too!!

[k979aaa]

seems to have worked here too!!

Maybe they royalmail are looking too fire staff and not redeploy or make staff redundant how much can a postie on 20 years service go on when they can fire you for NOT DOING YOUR JOB PROPERLY!. Yet if if you know of any corruption in your office you can inform the IB and your DOM or even area manager can be interrogated by them!. Dont try to beat the system work within it too defeat it!.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I guess so, but look at doctors, the police, nurses etc. All of these people can make mistakes which sometimes result in death, but we can make a small mistake and get sacked for it!

With the things I've already mentioned, longer collection routes, more packets from fewer Post Offices (often at the back of a shop) and having to maintain a 20MPH average speed in an area with 20MPH limits our lot is not a happy one.

Anyway, back to the IB. Can anyone post some info about who they are, where they are based, how they work etc? Everyone just goes silent at Pompey when the IB are mentioned!!

IB are at the internal investigation and security service for Royal Mail.

They are based over the whole country and have offices in Area HQ and most very large units as far as I know.

They work just like the police and they control the cameras that are in every office. When they become aware of a problem they will use the CCTVs to gather evidence along with test packets.

They have no more powers of arrest or search than Joe Public but will usually inform the local police beforehand, so that if you refuse to give them permission to search you or your property they can perform a citizens arrest and then hold you until the police arrive to carry out the search based on evidence provided by the IB.

If you are concerned about any illegal acts involving Royal Mail employees, Royal Mail Property or Postal Packets and letters please find the following contact details for Royal Mail Security (colliqually known as the IB)

Security Help Desk: 0207 239 6655

or

securityhelpdesk@royalmail.com

[bogstandard]

I guess so, but look at doctors, the police, nurses etc. All of these people can make mistakes which sometimes result in death, but we can make a small mistake and get sacked for it!

With the things I've already mentioned, longer collection routes, more packets from fewer Post Offices (often at the back of a shop) and having to maintain a 20MPH average speed in an area with 20MPH limits our lot is not a happy one.

Anyway, back to the IB. Can anyone post some info about who they are, where they are based, how they work etc? Everyone just goes silent at Pompey when the IB are mentioned!!

who told you to maintain a 20mph average speed, cause they're an idiot
i can't do that at my office as the speed limit in the yard is 5 mph, then i have to join the main road so i could end up waiting there to jion and 30 yards down the road there are traffic lights. in the past it has taken 5 or minutes to travel 100 yards, alternatively i go in the other direction and the speed linit is 20. This is not a speed you me or anybody must try to achieve and maintain but a speed we must not exceed.

[Pompey Boy]

My understanding is that our collection routes, which don't make much sense, were produced using computer software and an assumed average speed of 20MPH. They were then checked by a manager who didn't bother to clear boxes and post offices, but just waited by them for the allocated time. Of course his conclusion was that the new routes were fine, which is what senior management wanted to hear, but the reality is very different. Unfortunately our managers can't or won't understand the concept of an average speed - very sad either way.

PS Should be interesting today as we are not on strike!

[andy2007]

No-one should be trying to achieve an average speed on the roads. You should drive at a safe speed, and within the speed limits. If they're asking you to do anything else. It might be worth getting the Police involved, as they're potentially promoting dangerous and/or rekless driving.

[fmrPOSTIE]

In Portsmouth the council are enforcing a 20mph speed limit on city roads, excluding main roads. Other cities are looking at the idea...

On the point of IB: well , there are some based at PMC, UK wide there are only 200. Which is ridiculous given the size and geographics of RM.

[axeman]

finger on the pulse ex postman

[andy2007]

In Portsmouth the council are enforcing a 20mph speed limit on city roads, excluding main roads. Other cities are looking at the idea...

On the point of IB: well , there are some based at PMC, UK wide there are only 200. Which is ridiculous given the size and geographics of RM.

Are you serious, that there are only 200 in the whole of the UK?!?