Surge in post office attacks blamed on recession

ATTACKS on post offices have increased by two thirds despite more than €15 million being poured into An Post security and alarm systems in recent years.

Figures reveal there were up to 100 attacks on post offices last year, up from 60 the previous year.

These included armed robberies, attempted break-ins and what are described as “security incidents”.

An Post blamed the increased number of violent incidents on the recession and warned staff must comply with security rules if future robberies are to be thwarted.

The company’s head of retail John Daly said each post office was equipped with time locked safes, CCTV, panic buttons and alarms.

Despite security seminars for employees, a small number of staff were still not following exact procedures with regard to holding cash, he told members of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications.

“Each successful robbery, from the criminal point of view, puts other post offices at risk, particularly if the amounts of cash taken are excessive. We must be able to demonstrate that big sums of cash are not available when robberies take place.”

TDs were told the near-67% increase in security incidents last year at post offices was a knock-on effect from the recession. “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,” said Mr Daly.

TD Mattie McGrath said in his Tipperary South constituency the “dogs on the street” had known the delivery times of cash to post offices.

He stressed the need to stagger delivery times to help prevent robberies.

Senator Maria Corrigan welcomed news that the company was outsourcing its cash deliveries, which would reduce risk of attacks against post office staff.

Customers, particularly older people, had been left traumatised when caught up in robberies, she stressed.

The company has spent in excess of €15m upgrading security in recent years. Seminars for staff had included issues like the recent spate of “tiger kidnappings”.

An Post said that where possible it offered counselling to customers caught up in attacks.

The company also said that a fall of 5.4% in its revenue last year would be offset by plans to cut employee numbers.

It cut 400 of its 10,000 employees last year and said it expects to shed another 1,375 positions by 2012.