Royal Mail investigates former postman: Penarth residents say cheques and hospital letters 'failed to arrive' (From Penarth Times)

Royal Mail investigates former postman: Penarth residents say cheques and hospital letters 'failed to arrive'

7:40am Thursday 4th October 2012 in News

ROYAL Mail is investigating a former postal worker for allegedly 'tampering' with mail, after numerous items due to be delivered in lower Penarth failed to arrive.

One local woman said close to £1000 worth of cheques not been delivered, while another resident said hospital appointments had been missed as a result.

Royal Mail spokesperson, Heulyn Gwyn Davies said the company had a ‘zero tolerance approach to dishonesty’.

"We can confirm a former postman is being investigated in the Penarth area for allegedly tampering with the mail,” he said.

"Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely.

"We will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust.

"Royal Mail customers should be confident in our services and systems, but where we are alerted to problems, either through our own stringent checks or from information supplied by our customers, we always take decisive action to investigate.

“The individual no longer works for Royal Mail.”

But homeowners in the area concerned – believed to be around Lavernock Road – said they were disappointed no notice had been given about the problem which had “caused havoc”.

Penarth Operatic and Dramatic Society (PODS) patrons’ secretary, Wendy Huxtable McTurk, said cheques totalling £800 - relating to the forthcoming performance of Twelfth Night - had gone missing.

“I had a phone call yesterday from somone asking why their tickets hadn’t been sent out, and I had to explain that I hadn’t received their cheque,” she said.

“That was the 16th one. And that’s the ones we know about.

“There could be hundreds of people affected in the area, and they might not even know.”

Carys Close resident Tony Scott added: “Two hospital appointments have been missed in my small close, and a vehicle tax disc remains undelivered - but no official notice has been given.

“If you miss hospital appointments you go to the bottom of the list - but how are you supposed to know about them if you don’t receive any notice.”

Mr Scott said it was only when he rang to report the issue that he was told Royal Mail were dealing with the problem.

“They could have done a leaflet drop at least, so people could have made other arrangements or chased up items they were expecting,” he added.

Both residents said they are receiving mail as normal again now, but are still missing several items from the last two weeks of August.

* To get in touch with Mrs McTurk about missing PODS tickets, call 02920 708046.