Thefts From HCTs

[clashcityrocker]

Colleague
Our customers trust us to collect process and deliver their mail securely. There have been over 60 thefts from unattended and unsecured HCTs in London over the last few months.

While this may be the work of an organised gang targeting the mail, (maybe someone could give a geographic breakdown of the thefts) it would also appear that the Risk Assessments weren't done properly and people aren't doing the job properly.

All HCTs must be locked at all times and kept in view. If you leave your HCT unattended it must be secured to street furniture and must not be left unattended for more than 10 minutes.

This suggests the practice of tying it up and looping is allowed whereas I thought you could only leave the HCT unattended if their had been a security risk assessment and in the absence of such the HCT was to be pushed around the whole duty?

[chrisj]

Sometimes, it might be possible to spend up to 5 minutes in large office complex or precinct with a few companies and loads of specials to sign for...

Maybe, It is not about Looping but also there might be a need to loop where access or inclines/slopes are a problem.

Either way, they should be locked and secured or postie could be in trouble. The same applies to LWT but most can be dragged into a foyer of an office or apartment block if needed.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

As far as I'm aware, the length of time the HCT can be left locked to an immoveable object varies depending upon the area risk assessment, 2/5/10mins for high/medium/low risk.

Still far too many HCT users are not following security spec, because they want to finish the whole walk somewhere near the theoretical contract hours finish time by doing things they should not be doing, instead of following correct procedure and deciding if they are happy to do overtime... or follow cut off procedure and give others overtime.

[baleout]

I have a solution. Make them more robust. Not the usual RM , ...."make it as cheap as possible". Much like our Uniform

[fishtank]

As far as I'm aware, the length of time the HCT can be left locked to an immoveable object varies depending upon the area risk assessment, 2/5/10mins for high/medium/low risk.

No that all changed in July 2013 when the Delivery Equipment Security Procedure was changed again.

security times.jpg

As you can see from the new times the risk assessment is now practically redundant.

[krussel]

From what I know the HCT can be left for a max of 10 mins as long as its locked and chained. You can "micro loop" for up to 10 mins with a max of 8 kg on your back.

[celerycelery]

From what I know the HCT can be left for a max of 10 mins as long as its locked and chained. You can "micro loop" for up to 10 mins with a max of 8 kg on your back.

That's what I always thought, but ive heard of some being left in the same place for over an hour whilst delivery person used it as a bag drop and just returned once within the hour to fill up a no doubt overweight pouch.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I am being thick, probably, but if CDVs cant be left unattended for more than 10 minutes why have 40 minute loops.

[celerycelery]

I am being thick, probably, but if CDVs cant be left unattended for more than 10 minutes why have 40 minute loops.

That was my next question Maybe it means you can leave it unlocked for 10 mins before you return to lock it

[fishtank]

I am being thick, probably, but if CDVs cant be left unattended for more than 10 minutes why have 40 minute loops.

It had me wondering as well but I think it relates to leaving mail unattended in the cab area.

• Secure the MB44 pouch to the front passenger seat and ensure the pouch flap remains closed at all times when the vehicle is moving Only leave an MB44 pouch containing mail in the cab of an unattended vehicle for NO longer than 10 minutes. Every effort should be made to make this occurrence an exception and not the norm

And

DON’T

• Ever carry or retain Special Delivery items in the cab area
• Carry loose items of mail in the cab area.
• Leave ANY mail in the cab area of a vehicle when you are leaving it unattended for longer than 10 minutes
• Carry any unauthorised passengers
• Leave any mail items in a van overnight

[Mr Incognito]

Colleague
Our customers trust us to collect process and deliver their mail securely. There have been over 60 thefts from unattended and unsecured HCTs in London over the last few months.

While this may be the work of an organised gang targeting the mail, (maybe someone could give a geographic breakdown of the thefts) it would also appear that the Risk Assessments weren't done properly and people aren't doing the job properly.

All HCTs must be locked at all times and kept in view. If you leave your HCT unattended it must be secured to street furniture and must not be left unattended for more than 10 minutes.

This suggests the practice of tying it up and looping is allowed whereas I thought you could only leave the HCT unattended if their had been a security risk assessment and in the absence of such the HCT was to be pushed around the whole duty?

There was a spate of thefts @9 months or so ago in the outer 'N' postcode area of London. I believe that one postman who attempted to confront the thieves was threatened with the very same knife that they were using to cut into the sides of the trolleys. As far as I'm aware all the HCT's in my office have been fitted with aluminium liners in order to make them more secure.

[celerycelery]

If all drivers did that Fishtank every day of the week then lapsing would only be in a managers dream. Most walks would fail to complete on time most days. I'm amazed as how many I see leaving the office with packets piled up in front along with a tray of mail on front seat.

[shepherdess]

Same question here 10 minutes in a cdv our loops are anywhere between 20 minutes and an hour clarification is needed on timings if they changed in 2013 surly all loops need replotting

[dvbuk55]

There was a spate of thefts @9 months or so ago in the outer 'N' postcode area of London. I believe that one postman who attempted to confront the thieves was threatened with the very same knife that they were using to cut into the sides of the trolleys. As far as I'm aware all the HCT's in my office have been fitted with aluminium liners in order to make them more secure.

Well it does make them more secure but not that secure. There's a second generation of HCTs with an all rigid plastic body which is much more secure but having worked on the HCTs in the early days, before ROMEC took over, the locks have always been a weak point IMO.

[Martin Walsh]

Clash the recent thefts from HCTs in London have taken place in South West , South East London and West London. In most of those incidents the HCTs have been lifted into a van and driven off.

The ID departments have been patrolling these areas and have been reporting incidents where postmen and women have breached the mails integrity policy. This has led to a number of suspensions and conduct cases including the two Wimbledon indivduals who the union was successful in getting then reinstated.

The brief was a joint communication from Royal Mail and the CWU and it is aimed at preventing any more protential cases. In terms of the HCT and the 10 minutes this is the security advice however a risk can be taken on a case by case basis and this would have to be signed off by the Delivery Director.

Sadly Identify fraud is the fastest growing crime and it seems that postmen and women have become the targets and it is very important that postmen and women ensure that they stick to the mails integrity policy and I was in an office in North London on Monday where HCTs did not have any pad locks and were being left outside blocks of flats. The DSM is now acting on this. management in London are now ensuring that every route has a clear delivery method solution and if it's by an HCT then they should have their own HCT and padlock. The problem is that we still have 40 delivery method revisions to do and some offices have still cars on delivery and bags on shoulders.