Security fears on pinta post mail `left on open view'
MILKMEN delivering mail in Liverpool could be wide open to theft, a detective has warned.
Express Dairies is piloting a “pints and parcels” project in the city.
The dairy insists the mail is kept in a secure locker. But one worried policeman says he saw mail left on open view.
Postal regulator Postcomm, together with direct marketing firm ADM, have granted Express Dairies a one-year licence to deliver up to 4.6m parcels.
Merseyside detective constable Steve Simpson says he saw a milkman and his son leave a float stacked with valuable parcels and letters while delivering mail in Liverpool city centre.
DC Simpson said: “The milkman left the float unattended for about 15 minutes in a busy city centre street.
“A large amount of parcels and first class mail was left insecure, for all to see. There was no security of any shape or form.
“I looked at the load and found a first class envelope addressed to the UK passport office in Liverpool. Anyone could have walked past and stolen it.”
DC Simpson believes Postcomm and Express Dairies have not thought through the implications of delivering valuable or sensitive mail on milk floats.
He added: “Parcels are not like milk or bread and must be treated securely.
“Otherwise the scheme is definitely going to create more work for the police.
“We’ll be chasing parcel thieves through the streets, when we have more serious matters to attend to.”
A Postcomm spokesman said: “We would not commit to a scheme that we feel would breach the security of private post.
“The milk floats have lockable boxes on them where parcels can be kept while the milkmen make their deliveries.”
But Communication Workers Union branch chairman Pat O’Hara said: “Mail is not like milk – you just can’t leave it on the doorstep.
“I’m sure if you are one of the lucky customers to be knocked out of bed at the crack of dawn to take delivery of a book that is slightly too big for your letter box, you will make your feelings known to the firm which is delivering it.”
Copyright: The Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Ltd
