Communal Post

[nsl]

Fully sympathise with you moseleyite . I'm in a similar position. I live in a house that has been converted into 8 self contained flats. The mail is delivered through the main house door and left in the hallway for neighbours to rummage through. I have lost at least 6 items of mail in as many weeks and I know that all my mail is handled/screened/interfered with by nosy neighbours as it is never in the basket where the postie leaves it when I return home in the evenings - it is either outside my door or strewn on the floor, far from the postbox. Several times I have come to know that packages clearly addressed to me have been opened and then left on my doorstep in a bag, other times I have ordered from Amazon, Ebay and the item has gone missing. I also have personal mail, bank statements etc which have gone missing. Besides the loss issues, a lot of official mail is clearly identifiable etc and it is a gross invasion of privacy to have neighbours know who you receive mail from.

With more and more people living in flats and more houses being turned into flats there needs to be a clearly defined system for post delivery in such situations. Whether it be that flat blocks are required to have an external system that the postie can clearly access or whether it is a requirements that all blocks provide the postie with a key - I don't know. But what I do know is that it is a serious privacy and theft issue to have to share a communal mailbox with strangers.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

NSL if you believe people are intercepting your mail then scare them with this http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/26/part/V" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postal Act 2000

Part V

Offences in relation to Postal Services

Offences of interfering with the mail

83. Interfering with the mail: general.
(1)A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he—
(a)intentionally delays or opens a postal packet in the course of its transmission by post, or
(b)intentionally opens a mail-bag.
(2)Subsections (2) to (5) of section 83 apply to subsection (1) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(3)A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.
(4)Subsections (2) and (3) of section 83 (so far as they relate to the opening of postal packets) apply to subsection (3) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(5)A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

If that does not work then get the Post Office Investigation Branch/Police involved and they will prosecute if there is a case.

[fedup123]

NSL if you believe people are intercepting your mail then scare them with this http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/26/part/V" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postal Act 2000

Part V

Offences in relation to Postal Services

Offences of interfering with the mail

83. Interfering with the mail: general.
(1)A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he—
(a)intentionally delays or opens a postal packet in the course of its transmission by post, or
(b)intentionally opens a mail-bag.
(2)Subsections (2) to (5) of section 83 apply to subsection (1) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(3)A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.
(4)Subsections (2) and (3) of section 83 (so far as they relate to the opening of postal packets) apply to subsection (3) above as they apply to subsection (1) of that section.
(5)A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

If that does not work then get the Post Office Investigation Branch/Police involved and they will prosecute if there is a case.

Hi there, I apologise for resurrecting this old post but I am in a rather sticky situation myself. This looks like a very useful advice. Could anybody please confirm whether this legislation is applicable if someone from my block of flats has been dumping my posts in the bin? I know that without evidence, it is difficult to blame someone but I want to be sure before attempting to scare them off by putting up this notice at my communal entrance. Suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Yes - at a minimum that's delaying the post, at worst its theft which comes under its own act:
Postal Services Act 2000 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/200 ... 026_en.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(2) In any proceedings in England and Wales for an offence under
1968 c. 60. section 83 or 84 of this Act, section 27(4) of the Theft Act 1968 shall apply
as it applies to proceedings for the theft of anything in the course of
transmission by post.

Theft Act 1968 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/196 ... n-of-theft" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Basic definition of theft.
(1)A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it; and “thief” and “steal” shall be construed accordingly.
(2)It is immaterial whether the appropriation is made with a view to gain, or is made for the thief’s own benefit.