BARNSLEY has been identified as one of the worst places in the country for dogs attacking postal workers - with Athersley North highlighted as a hotspot for serious incidents.
A project involving Royal Mail and South Yorkshire Police has been launched to tackle the issue in response to the damning figures, which reveal Barnsley is now second to only Leicester for the number of reported incidents in the country.
Royal Mail says there has been an eight per cent decrease in attacks nationally - but Barnsley’s stats have increased by 25 per cent in a year.
A total of 15 attacks have involved the town’s posties during that time, which has resulted in injuries being sustained, with 84 per cent of those happening in Athersley North.
Having issued a warning before Christmas, a period associated with more dog attacks due to the rush to deliver cards and presents to homes, bosses told the Chronicle this week that 2019 has continued to be blighted by serious incidents.
The Chronicle can reveal 183 Barnsley properties have been blacklisted by Royal Mail since the beginning of last year due to suspected dangerous dogs.
Simon Lally, delivery line manager for Royal Mail, said: “I’m shocked by the statistics and it’s horrendous for workers as they are going about their day-to-day jobs.
“This should not be happening and more needs to be done to prevent attacks.
“Barnsley, which in the grand scheme of things is a small town nationally, has the highest rate of dog bites on workers, with some Athersley North streets being simply off bounds.
“It’s caused by irresponsibility and the injuries aren’t just physical, they’re psychological and can remain with someone for their entire life.
“The growth in online shopping and signed-for deliveries is resulting in workers having to knock on doors and for a customer to open it, increasing the possibility of direct contact with dogs in their own home which they will naturally defend.
“To help reduce the growing number of attacks, owners need to increase their awareness of animal behaviour, take responsibility and recognise when their pet is showing signs of territorial aggression.
“Christmas was actually quite quiet, despite it usually being the time when most attacks are reported, but it’s ramped up again in January, February and March so we need to appeal to the dog-owning public and raise awareness of just how serious the problem is in Barnsley.
“When we suspend mail, occupants have to come to the main delivery office to collect their mail on a daily basis incurring costs, wasting time and causing extra queues for those collecting parcels.
“As an office we have invested more than 250 hours in the last year training postal workers on the dangers of dogs and invested in new equipment to aid safe delivery.
“I have personally sent out 145 mail suspension or dog warning letters to customers who have out-of-control dogs, have snatched mail from behind the letterbox or are potentially loose in the garden when a postal worker attempts delivery.”
According to the Royal Mail, dog attacks have become ‘weekly occurrences’ and a Barnsley postie - who had been in position for just three weeks - sustained ‘life-changing’ injuries having been bitten on both ankles.
The matter, which was discussed by local police, councillors and Mr Lally at a crime meeting held in Athersley last month, will result in an intelligence-gathering project to ensure more is done to protect workers when they’re on their rounds.
A dog attack prevention group involving the police and its partners will be next held in Rotherham on May 20 to discuss Barnsley’s spate of attacks and measures.
Options inluding dangerous dog owners’ tenancies being ripped up are set to be explored.
A police spokesman said: “Consequences of a prosecution could include the seizure of a dog and a destruction order being issued at court.
“Royal Mail reserves the right to suspend delivery of mail if a dog within a property is deemed a risk to their staff.
“South Yorkshire Police is working with Royal Mail to reduce the number of dog attacks on their staff, which are unacceptably high in our region.”
