Confidential mail found in Middlesbrough street

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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HIGHLY confidential mail including a letter addressed to a child protection nurse was found on a busy street in Middlesbrough.

The wallet of outgoing post was picked up from the middle of the road at the junction of Ayresome Street and Crescent Road by shocked passer-by Christopher Craigens.

Some of the 12 unfranked letters were addressed to individuals including a school nurse and a health worker. Other “highly confidential” letters were headed for a senior nurse at the child protection department in Nunthorpe and an internal letter to legal services at Municipal Buildings.

Inquiries revealed that the post had been accidentally dropped by a Middlesbrough Council courier who collects post from various offices and takes it to the civic centre to be franked and picked up by Royal Mail.

Middlesbrough Council chief executive Ian Parker said the matter is being thoroughly investigated.

Mr Craigens was walking home from work on Wednesday when he discovered the bag at around 1pm.

“I just found it lying in the road,” said the 36-year-old dad of one.

“It was a Royal Mail business post bag labelled Middlesbrough House Mailroom.

“I could see one letter through the clear window, a letter addressed to Children’s Social Services at Kent County Council, so I knew it was important.

“It was really busy on the street and I was quite shocked about it. It is confidential and I wouldn’t like to think that caseloads concerning any members of my family who were in difficulty were left lying in the street.”

Mr Craigens, who works as an electrician for Dunelm Mill, contacted Royal Mail who collected it immediately and passed it back to Middlesbrough Council.

Mr Parker said: “Obviously we take matters of confidentiality extremely seriously, and the circumstances surrounding this incident are being thoroughly investigated.

“However, it would appear in this case that the envelope of mail was dropped by a member of our courier service while in transit from one of our offices to the civic centre post room where it was due to be franked and distributed.

“Operational procedures are already under review to ensure that staff are aware of the importance of safeguarding items of post at all times.

“Fortunately the mislaid envelope was found by a member of the public who handed it in intact to the Royal Mail and I am grateful for their prompt and public-spirited action.”

[Lounge Lizard]

Sadly many Gazette readers will just notice the "mail found in street" title, assume Royal Mail is to blame and not realise it hadn't yet been handed to us.

[pyphon]

thats what i thought when it dropped on my mat, but then noticed no stamps e.t.c but only after