Post office security incidents up 67%

THE NUMBER of post office robberies and attempted robberies increased by almost 70 per cent last year, the Oireachtas Committee on Communications heard yesterday.

John Daly, An Post director of retail operations, said there were 60 security incidents in 2008, compared with 100 last year. “While this is a 67 per cent increase, it should be pointed out that this figure represents a total of such incidents, many of which were unsuccessful as there was no cash loss,” he said.

“In fact, the associated cash losses caused by these incidents showed no material increase.”

Mr Daly said the crime rate began to increase in November 2008 and continued to rise throughout last year. The upward trend was continuing this year, he said.

“This rise in the crime rate is attributed to the current economic climate and not to any weakening of the security measures in place at post offices – quite the reverse,” Mr Daly said.

He said An Post had invested in security and training devices in recent years. It had spent more than €15 million in upgrading security, and had fully outsourced its cash deliveries to a professional cash handler.

While post offices had seen an increase in incidents, he said they were not being victimised. Post office robberies accounted for 4 per cent of the total number of robberies against institutions or establishments in the first three months of this year, down from 6 per cent last year.

He stressed the need for post-office workers to follow procedures regarding the keeping of cash under time-lock until it was needed, and having as little cash as necessary at the counter. When staff did not comply with procedures, they put every postmaster and postmistress at risk, he said.

Mr Daly also said the organisation’s retail operations had helped to mitigate some of the worst effects of the downturn. This week it began to roll out a pre-paid mobile phone service, Postfone, at some branches.

An Post is also in “the final stage” of talks with National Irish Bank regarding the provision of banking services to their customers. Earlier this year, An Post said it was winding down its Postbank venture with BNP Paribas for commercial reasons.

Mr Daly said An Post staff numbers had reduced by the equivalent of 400 full-time positions last year and they were expected to reduce by a further 1,375 over the next three years. An Post currently employs 10,000 staff.