Tunbridge Wells is named the worst area in the UK for dog attacks on postal workers, followed by Belfast, Sheffield, Portsmouth and Bristol. Royal Mail reports that some postal workers have suffered severe injuries. One woman had to undergo plastic surgery following a dog attack.


File pic: AP

Royal Mail reported an increase in the number of dog attacks against postal workers. Tunbridge Wells, Kent was named as being the most offending area.

A total of 1,916 dog attacks have been reported in the year up to 31 March 2023 – averaging 37 a week and increasing 14% on the 1,673 incidents in the previous year.

Some postal workers have suffered severe injuries from the pets of others. One woman had to undergo multiple surgeries, including plastic surgery after a dog clamped her elbow when it jumped on her behind.

For the first time the TN postcode (Tunbridge Wells), which has been on the list for the most dog attack-prone areas for the past nine years, was named as the worst offenders for the attacks.

Some 65 postal workers were confronted by people’s pets in the Kent postcode – up from 44 last year, representing an increase of 48%.

The BT (Belfast) postcode followed in second with 56 attacks, up from 50 last year, having previously topped the list four times since 2013.

Sheffield saw a 2% drop compared with last year but still placed third with 50 workers targeted by dogs.

The figures were announced on Monday as part of Dog Awareness Week. This annual event aims at encouraging responsible dog ownership.

Royal Mail said it wanted people to understand the “often devastating impact of dog attacks” on postal workers and take proper measures to ensure pets do not pose a threat.

More than 900 dog attacks happened at the front door – accounting for 47% of incidents.

A further 515 (27%) occurred in the garden, drive or yard while 11% took place in the street.

Some 381 injuries were caused through the letterbox, the equivalent of around 20%.

Dog attacks caused workers to take more than 3,000 days of absence in the past year, Royal Mail said, with one individual needing 139 days off.

In a statement, it said: “Royal Mail knows that dogs are not inherently dangerous, but, even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels either it or its territory is being threatened. “

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‘I couldn’t face going back on that round’

Postwoman Kimberley Link, 50, had been working in Eltham, southeast London, for around two years when she was savaged by a “big” dog on her rounds in July 2022.

She needed multiple operations including plastic surgery and skin grafts after the animal “suddenly appeared” before sinking its teeth into her arm.

One of the dog’s teeth lodged in her elbow and had to be removed during surgery.

She spent a week in the hospital and had to take six months of leave to recuperate. The ordeal left her with permanent nerve damage and scarring on her elbow.

Recalling the attack, Ms Link said: “I realised [the dog] was loose and turned to get away, but he jumped up at me from behind and clamped on to my left elbow.

” I can remember the puppy pulling me down to the ground, then letting go my elbow then biting into my back. “

A neighbour rushed to the aid of Ms Link after hearing her scream in pain, pulling the dog off her before calling an ambulance.

” I’ve got bad scarring and a large area where there is no sensation or feeling due to my skin graft,” added Ms Link.

” I took the management job when I was offered it. I could not have gone back to that first round. “

Now, she urges dog owners to always be careful when strangers come to their homes.

“Dogs will defend their homes and try to push past the owner. “

A court ordered the dog should be destroyed after the owner was prosecuted over the attack.

They were also handed a 12-month community order of 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay PS1,200 compensation to Ms Link.

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Where are the 10 worst postcodes – and how many attacks happened in the past year?

1. TN (Tunbridge Wells) – 65

2. BT (Belfast) – 56

3. S (Sheffield) – 50

4. PO (Portsmouth) – 49

5. BS (Bristol) – 42

6. SA (Swansea) – 41

7. EX (Exeter) – 38

8. NG (Nottingham) – 37

Joint 9th: BN (Brighton) and OX (Oxford) – both 34

Royal Mail’s health and safety director, Lizz Lloyd, said: “We are concerned to see attacks on our staff have increased this year.

“We know the number of attacks rises during the school holidays and in the summer months when parents and children are at home and dogs are sometimes allowed unsupervised in the garden or out on to the streets without restraints.

“While we would like our customers to be able to spend time outside with their dogs, we ask that they also consider the risk unsupervised pets pose to colleagues. “