9th April 2010
AJ Lyons
Freedom of Information Unit
2nd Floor
By Email: [FOI #30268 email]
Royal Mail Sheffield
Pond Street
Sheffield
S98 6HR
[Royal Mail Group request email]
www.royalmail.com
Dear Sir or Madam
Re: Freedom of Information Request
I am writing in response to your email on the 8th March 2010. We have considered your
request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I shall answer your
questions in the order that they appeared in your request:
1) How many / what percentage of employees at Edgware Sorting Office had a
criminal conviction, declared on commencing employment with Royal Mail, for
dishonesty offences i.e. Theft, Robbery, Burglary, Fraud?
Al applicants for jobs in Royal Mail are security vetted. If any criminal conviction of this
nature is identified then the job offer is withdrawn. Therefore, no individuals with a
conviction of this nature would have been employed at Edgware Delivery Office.
2) How many / what percentage of current employees at Edgware Sorting
Office have, since commencing employment with Royal Mail, been investigated
by Royal Mail for work-related dishonesty offences?
Relevant information is held by Royal Mail’s security department from April 2005 onwards.
Since April 2005, 9 employees have been investigated and interviewed under caution for
offences of dishonesty.
3) Of those investigated under Q2, how many / what percentage of employees
were found guilty at the end of these investigations?
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010 – Page 1 of 3
Cont…
Of the nine individuals, 4 were prosecuted, 3 were cautioned (one of the criteria for the
award of a caution is admitted guilt) and the remaining 2 individuals were dismissed from
the business, however, no further legal action was taken against them.
4) Of those investigated and found guilty under Q2 & Q3, how many / what
percentage of current employees at Edgware Sorting Office retained their jobs
and still work there?
None of the 9 individuals investigated continue to work for Royal Mail.
Royal Mail constantly reviews security to ensure the continuing integrity of the mail. We
have a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and, where there is evidence, we seek to
bring offenders before the courts. While the overwhelming majority of all letters posted
arrive safely at the correct destination, we remain very vigilant to any risk to the operation,
including any threat from criminals outside Royal Mail who target postmen and women to
steal the mail they are carrying.
Royal Mail Group employs around 170,000 people in the UK and it remains the case that
the huge majority of our people are scrupulously honest and take huge care over the mail
entrusted to them by our customers.
I hope that the information provided above is helpful to you. If for any reason you are not
satisfied with this response, you do have the right to request a review. If you wish to do so
please set out in writing your grounds of appeal and send to the Head of Information
Compliance, Royal Mail Group, Company Secretary's Office, 100 Victoria Embankment,
LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ. An internal panel will then review the decision, and you will be
advised of the outcome.
If, having requested an internal review by Royal Mail, you are still not satisfied with our
response you also have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010– Page 2 of 3
Cont…
Yours Sincerely
Daniel Tulp
Freedom of Information Case Officer
[Royal Mail Group request email]
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ.
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010– Page 3 of 3
