Lancashire Constabulary and Postal Workers Union sign new agreement to improve response to dog attacks

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, has welcomed the signing of a new agreement between Lancashire Constabulary and the Communications Workers Union (CWU), aimed at improving the response to dog attacks on postal workers and ensuring those on the frontline can carry out their duties safely.

The new guidance, developed jointly by the Constabulary and the CWU, sets out clear expectations for how postal workers should report dog‑related incidents and how the police will respond. It also provides practical advice for workers who face dangerous situations while delivering mail and outlines how information about potentially dangerous dogs can be shared to help protect both postal workers and the wider community.

Dog attacks remain a significant concern for postal workers, with around 2,600 incidents reported nationally each year, some resulting in life‑changing injuries. Postal workers are uniquely placed to identify risks within neighbourhoods, and the new agreement formalises how this information can be communicated to police to help prevent further harm.

Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said:

“Postal workers are out in our communities every day and deserve to feel safe while doing their jobs. Dog attacks can have a devastating impact, and it is vital that those affected know exactly what support they can expect and how the police will respond.

“This agreement ensures postal workers have clear guidance, timely support and a consistent police response so they can carry out their duties safely and with confidence.

“By working with delivery organisations and listening to the experiences of postal workers, we can reduce the risk of harm, improve confidence in the police response, and make sure that those responsible for dangerous dogs are held to account. This is an important step in keeping people safe across Lancashire.”

Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Lee said:

“Keeping people safe is at the heart of our work, and that includes those who serve the public every day. This agreement gives postal workers clear guidance on what to do if they are involved in or witness a dog attack, and it sets out how our officers will respond and investigate.

“Our teams deal with a wide range of incidents involving dangerous dogs, and having timely, accurate information from postal workers can make a real difference, whilst this agreement also highlights what postal workers can expect from the force when faced with an incident of this nature.

“Everyone deserves to do their job without fear of injury or abuse and similar to our work through Operation Vulture tackling harassment of retail workers, we will do all we can to protect the public and stop offenders.”

Jamie McGovern, CWU National Health & Safety Lead, said:

“Dog attacks are a significant hazard to the postmen and women who serve a population of over 1.3 million people in Lancashire. This new agreement will reassure postal workers, so they can have full trust and confidence in the police in that any dog attack incident will be taken seriously with individual concerns listened to, and that action taken shall be expeditious, to ensure the safety of themselves and the members of the communities they serve.

“Most postal workers see themselves as part of the community, dog attacks very often have long lasting serious and significant physical and psychological effects, with some of the most serious attacks resulting in many Communication Workers Union members being unable or unfit to ever resume work within the communities they serve.

“The CWU share the same philosophy as Lancashire Police in that keeping people safe is at the heart of our work, and we see working in partnership as a vital part of that process. We see this new agreement as a real valuable partnership commitment, which we hope will bring many mutual benefits to both parties, but most importantly offer much needed reassurance to our postal workers who continue to offer work and support in the heart of the Lancashire community.”