Royal Mail has urged households with dogs to display a simple four-word warning sign, cautioning that deliveries could be halted if safety measures aren’t followed.
With Easter approaching — a busy period for parcels — customers are being encouraged to act now.
New figures published on June 30, 2025 show dog attacks on postal workers increased by 2% over the past year, reaching 2,197 incidents.
That works out at around 42 attacks every week across the UK, with some posties suffering serious, life-altering injuries.
To tackle the issue, Royal Mail is promoting straightforward steps to protect staff while keeping deliveries running smoothly.
One of the easiest solutions is a sign reading: “I have a dog.”
This printable notice alerts delivery workers to pause while the homeowner secures their pet, allowing time to safely answer the door.
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Postal staff are instructed to wait, reducing the risk of sudden encounters.
In a letter to customers, the company stressed that while receiving mail is important, safety comes first.
It warned that around 2,000 postal workers are injured by dogs each year. When attacks happen, incidents must be reported to police, and deliveries to that address may be suspended to prevent further risk.
Royal Mail is asking for public cooperation, highlighting the areas with the highest number of reported attacks:
Worst-affected postcode areas for dog attacks on postal workers
1st
The S (Sheffield) postcode area experienced a concerning 61% increase in dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers this year, in stark contrast to an 18% decrease the previous year. A total of 66 attacks were reported in 2024/25, up from 41 in 2023/24. Notably, the S postcode area has consistently appeared on every high-risk list for dog attacks since postcode-specific data began being recorded. This is the fourth time it has topped the list as the most dangerous location for dog attacks.
2nd
Dog attacks in the PO (Portsmouth) postcode area were marginally down on last year – with 60 attacks compared to 62 for 2023/24 – equating to a 3% drop. The postcode area came joint top of dangerous locations for dog attacks last year. The PO postcode area has featured amongst the most high-risk areas for dog attacks for eight consecutive years and nine in total since Royal Mail began publishing attack figures.
3rd
The TN (Kent/Sussex/Surrey) postcode area recorded a 33% increase in dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers this year, following a 35% decrease in 2023/24. A total of 56 attacks were reported in the latest period, up from 42 the previous year. The TN postcode area has appeared on the list of most dangerous areas for dog attacks for 11 consecutive years and ranked as the most dangerous location for postal workers in 2023/24.
4th
This is the second time the GU (Guildford) postcode area has featured on the high-risk list since 19/20. The 54 attacks reported this year show a 29% increase on last year’s 42 incidents. This is the sixth time the postcode area has appeared on the most dangerous locations list for dog attacks since Royal Mail began reporting postcode-specific figures.
5th
The NG (Nottingham) postcode saw 49 dog attacks on postal workers this year. This is a 17% increase on the 42 attacks in 2023/24. This is the fifth consecutive year that the NG postcode area has appeared in the list of most dangerous locations for dog attacks – last year it was the 6th most unsafe location in the UK for dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers. The postcode area has featured in the high-risk locations nine times since Royal Mail began reporting postcode-specific figures.
6th
The CM (Chelmsford) and BN (Brighton) postcode areas are the joint sixth highest-risk locations with 47 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location. The BN (Brighton) postcode area recorded 47 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers this year — a slight 2% decrease from the 48 incidents reported in 2023/24. This marks the ninth consecutive year the BN area has appeared on the high-risk list since Royal Mail began publishing location-specific data. It ranked fourth-highest in risk last year and was the most dangerous location for dog attacks in 2021.
The CM (Chelmsford) postcode area has appeared on the high-risk list for dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers three times since location-specific data was first published. It was first listed in 2018/19, when 38 attacks were reported, and again in 2019/20 with 44 incidents.
7th
The BT (Belfast) and NE (Newcastle) postcode areas are the seventh joint highest-risk locations with 45 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location.
The BT (Belfast) postcode area witnessed a 27% drop in dog attacks this year compared to 62 incidents reported in 2023/24. Last year the postcode area ranked as the 2nd most dangerous location for attacks. The BT postcode area has featured in every dog attack hot-spot list since Royal Mail began releasing location-specific data in 2013. It has held the title of most dangerous location for attacks on five separate occasions.
8th
This is the second time the SN (Swindon) postcode area has featured in the most high-risk locations. This year saw 44 attacks reported, a 10% increase on the 40 incidents in 2022/23.
9th
The DN (Doncaster) postcode area has featured on Royal Mail’s dog attack hot-spot list for the first time since location-specific data began being published in 2013. In the most recent reporting year, 42 attacks on postal workers were recorded — a rise of 31% compared to the 32 incidents reported in 2023/24.
10th
The ST (Staffordshire) postcode area has made its debut on Royal Mail’s list of most dangerous areas. This year, 40 dog attacks on postal workers were reported — a 33% increase from the 30 incidents recorded in 2023/24.
Royal Mail’s Health and Safety Director, Lizz Lloyd, said dog attacks remain one of the biggest risks facing postal workers, often leading to serious injuries, emotional distress, and time off work.
She added that while the organisation continues to invest in training and awareness campaigns, reducing these incidents ultimately depends on the public taking responsibility — particularly by securing dogs before opening the door to deliveries.
