Royal Mail is encouraging UK households with dogs to take a simple safety step at the front door to protect delivery staff. The advice is aimed at preventing split-second incidents when a driver arrives and a pet rushes the entrance, creating a situation that can quickly become "unpredictable".
Free door notice available in English and Welsh
Dog owners are being asked to use a free printable door notice - available in English and Welsh - to prompt a short pause while the dog is put in another room or held securely before the door is opened. Royal Mail says this simple sign can make a big difference, helping to reduce the risk of bites and other attacks during deliveries.
The sign reads: "I have a dog. Please wait whilst I secure my dog before opening the door."
Royal Mail stresses: "Even the most lovable dog can be a danger to postal workers. Dogs are territorial by nature, and if they feel they need to protect their family, they can become unpredictable. Please help us to deliver your post safely by keeping your dog secure and out of the way before the post person arrives."
2,019 attacks reported in past year
Royal Mail announced on 6 July 2026 that 2,019 dog attacks on staff were reported in the past year—an 8% drop on the previous reporting period. Royal Mail added that more than half of incidents (52%) happened at the front door.
It noted: "Whilst the company welcomes the drop, attacks remain unacceptably high. The figure equates to an average of 38 attacks every week across the UK, with some leading to permanent and disabling injuries."
Aiming to encourage "responsible dog ownership", the postal company said at the time it was "appealing to dog owners to ensure they understand the devastating impact of dog attacks on postmen and postwomen and take proper measures to ensure their pets pose no threat to delivery postal workers, or the community at large, through responsible dog ownership."
Health and Safety Director comments
Lizz Lloyd, Health & Safety Director at Royal Mail, said: "While it’s encouraging to see dog attacks on our colleagues fall by 8% last year, these incidents remain a serious risk to postal workers, resulting in painful injuries and lasting distress. Every attack is one too many.
"We continue to raise awareness of the issue among the public, but preventing attacks starts at the doorstep. We’re urging dog owners to take simple steps, such as keeping pets secure before opening the door, to help keep our people safe."
Top UK postcodes for dog attacks
The S (Sheffield) postcode area was ranked the highest risk location for Royal Mail postal workers for the second consecutive year, with 61 dog attacks reported. This marks an 8% decrease from the 66 attacks recorded in 2024/25. Notably, the S postcode area has appeared on every high risk list since postcode-specific data began and, for the fifth time, tops the ranking for dog attacks.
The DN (Doncaster) and GU (Guildford) postcode areas are the second joint highest-risk locations with 53 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location. The DN (Doncaster) postcode has seen a 26% increase in dog attacks, appearing in the top 10 most dangerous locations for the second consecutive year and for only the second time since Royal Mail began publishing these figures. Attacks have risen from 42 reported in 2024/25. The GU (Guildford) postcode area appears on the high-risk postcode list for the seventh time since Royal Mail began publishing postcode-specific figures. The total represents a slight 2% decrease from 54 attacks reported last year.
The NE (Newcastle) and PO (Portsmouth) postcode areas are the third joint highest-risk locations with 50 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location. The NE (Newcastle) postcode area saw an 11% increase on dog attacks this year, up on 45 in 2024/25. This is the 5th time the area has appeared in the high-risk locations. Dog attacks in the PO (Portsmouth) were down on last year – compared to 60 for 2024/25 – equating to a 17% drop – but attack numbers are significant enough that it remains in the high-risk list. The postcode area came joint top of dangerous locations for dog attacks in 2023/24. The PO postcode area has featured in the top, most high-risk areas for dog attacks for nine consecutive years and 10 in total since Royal Mail began publishing attack figures.
The NG (Nottingham) postcode saw 48 dog attacks on postal workers this year. This is a 2% decrease on the 49 attacks in 2024/25. This is the sixth consecutive year that the NG postcode area has appeared in the list of most dangerous locations for dog attacks – last year it was the 5th most unsafe location in the UK for dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers. The postcode area has featured in the high-risk locations 10 times since Royal Mail began reporting postcode specific figures.
The SA (Swansea) postcode area is in fifth place for dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers with 44 attacks reported. This is the third time the SA postcode area has featured in the top 10 list for dog attacks. Dog attacks have risen from 25 last year, marking a 76% increase.
The BT (Belfast) postcode area reported 37 dog attacks this year - an 18% drop on last year compared to 45 incidents reported in 2024/25. Last year the postcode area was the 8th most dangerous place for attacks. The BT postcode area has appeared in every dog attack hot-spot list since Royal Mail began releasing location specific date in 2013. It has been the most dangerous location for attacks five times.
The ME (Rochester) postcode area reported 36 attacks on postal workers during 2024/25 making it the 7th most dangerous postcode area in the UK for dog attacks on postal workers. This figure represents a 38% increase on the 26 attacks reported in the previous year. This is the third time the postcode has appeared in the most high-risk list since Royal Mail began reporting postcode specific figures.
The TN (Kent/Sussex/Surrey) and YO (York) postcode areas are the eighth joint highest-risk locations with 35 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location. The TN (Kent/Sussex/Surrey) postcode area recorded a 38% decrease in dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers this year, following a 33% increase in 2024/25. The TN postcode area has appeared on the list of most dangerous areas for dog attacks for 12 consecutive years and ranked as the most dangerous location for postal workers in 2022/23. The YO (York) postcode area has appeared on the list of dangerous postcodes three times since Royal Mail began reporting postcode specific figures. The last time it appeared was in 2014/15. This year’s figure represents a 25% increase on the 28 incidents reported in 2024/25.
The LE (Leicester) postcode area appears on the list of highest risk locations for the first time, with 34 attacks recorded — a 31% increase on the 26 incidents reported in 2024/25. The ST (Staffordshire) postcode area has featured on Royal Mail’s list of most dangerous areas for the second consecutive. This year, 31 dog attacks on postal workers were reported—a 23% drop on the 40 incidents recorded in 2024/25.
