Tag: UK

The senior director in charge of the Royal Mail’s letters business has been stripped of his responsibilities following allegations of thefts by postal workers and revelations about the loss of millions of letters.

Elmar Toime, the organisation’s executive deputy chairman, has instead been put in charge of the performance of the parcels operation. The changes come in response to recent allegations in a Channel 4 television programme that Royal Mail staff were stealing money, and to an analysis by the consumer group Postwatch which revealed 14 million letters were “mis-delivered” every year.

Adam Crozier, chief executive of Royal Mail, has assumed direct control of postal deliveries after revelations of theft by staff and complaints about missing and late mail.

In a statement yesterday, Royal Mail said Mr Crozier had also appointed a new operations director, Tom Melvin, who was previously head of operations for the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It added: “The management of letters and transport operations has been brought together to improve co-ordination.

Patricia Hewitt has apologised to Royal Mail users for late deliveries and items lost but said reforms were starting to work.

The trade and industry secretary was confronted with questions in the Commons after a Channel 4 documentary uncovered negligence and theft at Royal Mail, and the Postwatch consumers’ group said 14.4m items were lost each year.