@CryzalisDesigns
Royal Mail, is not a courier service, It is our Royal Mail
What you are talking about will not happen with Royal mail, once handed over, that's it. Unless you have the legal paperwork.
Otherwise, it is a criminal offence to intercept Royal Mail
3. Section 104 of the Postal Services Act 2000 (‘PSA’) states that whilst in the course of
transmission by post, a letter, packet, parcel or mail bag and/or their contents are immune
from “examination, seizure or detention as it would have if it were the property of the Crown.”
Therefore, a postal packet is inviolable whilst it is in the mail system i.e. from the point it is
posted until it is delivered
...........only two exceptions
7. In the circumstances described in the Report, there are only two routes to lawfully intercept
postal packets after they are posted and before they are delivered.
Option 1
8. The Police can obtain a targeted interception warrant, a mutual assistance warrant or a bulk
interception warrant pursuant to Section 6(1) of the IPA. The communication can also be
intercepted pursuant to Section 44 of IPA:
(i) if the sender and recipient consent, or
(ii) either the sender or the recipient consents and a directed surveillance authority is in
force pursuant to Part 2 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
RMG is committed to co-operating with the Police and other law enforcement agencies and
will always provide assistance to them, as far as the law permits.
9. RMG will also assist the Police by undertaking a controlled delivery i.e. delivering an item
with Police Officers in close proximity. This allows the Police to enter the premises
immediately after delivery and seize the postal packet using their powers under the Police
and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
Option 2
15. If RMG staff receive information, or have cause to suspect, that a postal packet contains a
prohibited item which is not illegal per se (such as flammable gas, pesticides or live animals)
our staff may open and inspect the contents to ascertain whether the item is prohibited.
Where our staff are sure the item is prohibited, RMG has a wide discretion as to the disposal
of that item thereafter.
16. However, our staff must be sure the item is prohibited. RMG operates the national mail
system. Our primary purpose is to receive, process and deliver postal packets. This includes
handling many items which are not dangerous per se but could be used to cause harm. The
purpose to which an item, which is not prohibited, might be put is not a consideration for the
national postal operator. We must also be careful not to expose our staff to criminal liability
by allowing or encouraging them to intercept mail unless it is lawful to do so
17. Therefore, before any postal packet, suspected to contain prohibited items which are not
illegal, is opened, delivery office staff should make contact with the Security Helpdesk for an
assessment to be made as to whether interception is lawful. Security Helpdesk staff are
provided with written guidance and a process to follow to determine the issue and record
the reasons for the decision made. If the item is assessed as prohibited, it will be disposed
of appropriately.
