Royal mail urged to reinstate wrongly sacked postie

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/r ... -1-3948615" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AN MP is demanding to know why the Royal Mail is refusing to reinstate a postman – des­pite an employment tribunal judge ordering them to do so.

David Mitchell, 57, who has 27 years’ service, was sacked in December 2014 after a security check at the Cupar office in Fife involving sending “test” items to the office for delivery.


Mitchell, from Chance Inn, Cupar, was cleared of any wrongdoing at an employment tribunal.

However, Royal Mail refused to comply and asked for a reconsideration hearing, which takes place on 25 November.

Customers in the rural community have launched an online petition and held “silent protests” outside the Cupar mail office.

Mitchell described the moment he was apprehended as being “like something out of The Sweeney”.

“I was half-way round my delivery round and was talking to an old lady whose grass I’d cut the day before when suddenly two cars came to a halt beside us.

“The three men and a woman in suits flashed ID badges at me, saying they were from the Royal Mail Investigation Bureau. The old lady was shouting ‘what’s happening?’”

“They told me ‘we think you’ve been stealing mail’ and the next thing was they were piling me into the back of a car.” He added: “I’ve been a postie for 27 years, I went numb from head to toe, I was dumbstruck.”

Mitchell said the officials set up tapes and interviewed him in an “aggressive” manner for an hour back at the office. At one stage he said he was asked: “Would you just like to admit it here and now?”

He said that he was body- searched, his car and van were searched and he was then driven home, where his home was searched while a young child was present.

“The whole thing has been horrendous and has affected not only me but my family. My mum, who is 81, nearly collapsed when she heard about it. But the customers have been outstanding and have backed me to the hilt.”

Mitchell has been described as a “mainstay of the community”, doing volunteer work, helping customers with shopping and cutting grass for pensioners.

Jenny Macintyre, from Chance Inn, a customer on Mitchell’s round, said: “We’re all supporting Dave and trust him implicitly. The moment we heard what he was accused of none of us believed it. The Royal Mail’s decision is absolutely disgusting. I went to the tribunal and listened to all the ‘evidence’ of which there is none.”

Mitchell’s co-workers and the Communications Workers Union, are also calling for his reinstatement.

Stephen Gethins, SNP MP for North East Fife, has dem­anded an explanation from Royal Mail. He said: “I am very concerned by Royal Mail’s treatment of my constituent, David Mitchell, and have written to Ms Moya Greene, chief executive, to ask why Royal Mail has not implemented the judgment made by Judge I McFatridge and reinstated Mr Mitchell as directed. I await her response.”

Ken Glass of Baillies Law, Dundee, Mitchell’s solicitor, said: “The employment tribunal was fairly scathing of Royal Mail procedures and critical of its analysis.”

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail said: “Until this hearing has concluded it would be inappropriate to comment further on this individual case.”

[Dozen]

Many in IB really seem to think they're actual police, it's pathetic but kind of hilarious at the same time.

The posties comment of it being “like something out of The Sweeney” sounds very familiar to me. Someone in our office got stopped by them once, the IB guy got out of his car and actually slid over the front bonnet, then shouted "put your hands behind your head!" while pointing his walkie talkie at the postie as if it was a gun

Police rejects with power complexes.

[bustedflush]

Many in IB really seem to think they're actual police, it's pathetic but kind of hilarious at the same time.

The posties comment of it being “like something out of The Sweeney” sounds very familiar to me. Someone in our office got stopped by them once, the IB guy got out of his car and actually slid over the front bonnet, then shouted "put your hands behind your head!" while pointing his walkie talkie at the postie as if it was a gun

Police rejects with power complexes.

IB? The 'Idiot Bund'

[Phantom]

I'd have smashed the f***ers face in if they had approached me in that manner!!!

[NWpostie]

They don't have any powers of arrest or right to enter premises and search your car, you can refuse and they can't do anything until a Police Constable or Police Detective turns up.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id ... 25.97787.h" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Justiceseeker]

But David was dragged through criminal process because of the IB, as they report direct to Procurator Fiscal - that in itself is a crime, when this crowd are so clearly capable of making very grave mistakes! David had to pay 4 figures for the pleasure too, which in scotland you can't claim back. And the case didn't even make it to court as it was chucked out wasn't it, "no evidence" - Innocent until proven guilty!!!

David will never lie down as long as he is unfairly accused and called a thief. He has very strong support and it continues to build - what good people get and deserve, and it helps him carry on fighting. I know David's hope is that in doing what he is that he will help others to stand up and fight if they are wrongly accused. Spread the word on his behalf. Get his Change.org (UK Employment Law: the judges decision should be final) petition out there round the rest of the UK, the posties need to know.