The warning and timely reminder was issued today07:08, 06 Jul 2026Royal Mail today (July 6) has announced that 2,019 dog attacks on its staff were reported over the past year, an 8% decrease on the previous reporting period. However, while the company has welcomed the decline, the number of attacks remains unacceptably high.‌The total equates to an average of 38 attacks every week across the UK, with some resulting in permanent and life-changing injuries. Now the company is warning: "Every attack is one too many."‌This year saw fewer attacks causing serious injuries to postal workers. There were 61 serious injuries recorded in 2025/26, down from 74 the previous year - a 17% decrease. Despite the improvement, the number of serious injuries remains a concern.‌The figures have been released at the start of the 14th annual Dog Awareness Week, which runs from July 6 until the 12, aiming to promote responsible dog ownership. Royal Mail is urging dog owners to recognise the devastating impact dog attacks can have on postmen and postwomen, and to take simple steps to ensure their pets pose no threat to postal workers or the wider community.Royal Mail warns "everyis one too many"With approximately 15.5 million pet dogs in the UK, according to UK Pet Food’s Pet Data Report 2026, Lizz Lloyd, Health & Safety Director at Royal Mail, stresses: “While it’s encouraging to see dog attacks on our colleagues fall by 8% last year, these incidents remain a serious risk to postal workers, resulting in painful injuries and lasting distress. Every attack is one too many.‌“We continue to raise awareness of the issue among the public, but preventing attacks starts at the doorstep. We’re urging dog owners to take simple steps, such as keeping pets secure before opening the door, to help keep our people safe.”Which UK areas have the highest dog incidents?For the second consecutive year, the S (Sheffield) postcode recorded the highest number of incidents, with 61 attacks reported. Although still the postcode area with the greatest number of attacks, the total figure was down 8% on last year, when 66 attacks were recorded.Two postcode areas were ranked joint second for dog attacks on postal workers - DN (Doncaster) and GU (Guildford), each recording 53 incidents. They were followed by NE (Newcastle) and PO (Portsmouth) postcode areas in third place, with 50 attacks each.Top 10 most high-risk postcode areas for dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workersTop postcode areas for dog attacks on postal workers:‌1st. The S (Sheffield) postcode area was ranked the highest risk location for Royal Mail postal workers for the second consecutive year, with 61 dog attacks reported. This marks an 8% decrease from the 66 attacks recorded in 2024/25. Notably, the S postcode area has appeared on every high-risk list since postcode-specific data began and, for the fifth time, tops the ranking for dog attacks.2nd. The DN (Doncaster) and GU (Guildford) postcode areas are the second joint highest-risk locations, with 53 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location.The DN (Doncaster) postcode has seen a 26% increase in dog attacks, appearing in the top 10 most dangerous locations for the second consecutive year and for only the second time since Royal Mail began publishing these figures. Attacks have risen from 42 reported in 2024/25.The GU (Guildford) postcode area appears on the high-risk postcode list for the seventh time since Royal Mail began publishing postcode-specific figures. The total represents a slight 2% decrease from 54 attacks reported last year.3rd. The NE (Newcastle) and PO (Portsmouth) postcode areas are the third joint highest-risk locations with 50 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location. The NE (Newcastle) postcode area saw an 11% increase on dog attacks this year, up on 45 in 2024/25. This is the 5th time the area has appeared in the high-risk locations.Dog attacks in the PO (Portsmouth) were down on last year –compared to 60 for 2024/25 – equating to a 17% drop – but attack numbers are significant enough that it remains in the high-risk list. The postcode area came joint top of dangerous locations for dog attacks in 2023/24. The PO postcode area has featured in the top, most high-risk areas for dog attacks for nine consecutive years and 10 in total since Royal Mail began publishing attack figures.4th. The NG (Nottingham) postcode saw 48 dog attacks on postal workers this year. This is a 2% decrease on the 49 attacks in 2024/25. This is the sixth consecutive year that the NG postcode area has appeared in the list of most dangerous locations for dog attacks – last year it was the 5th most unsafe location in the UK for dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers. The postcode area has featured in the high-risk locations 10 times since Royal Mail began reporting postcode-specific figures.5th. The SA (Swansea) postcode area is in fifth place for dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers with 44 attacks reported. This is the third time the SA postcode area has featured in the top 10 list for dog attacks. Dog attacks have risen from 25 last year, marking a 76% increase.6th. The BT (Belfast) postcode area reported 37 dog attacks this year - an 18% drop on last year compared to 45 incidents reported in 2024/25. Last year the postcode area was the 8th most dangerous place for attacks. The BT postcode area has appeared in every dog attack hot-spot list since Royal Mail began releasing location-specific data in 2013. It has been the most dangerous location for attacks five times.7th. The ME (Rochester) postcode area reported 36 attacks on postal workers during 2024/25, making it the 7th most dangerous postcode area in the UK for dog attacks on postal workers. This figure represents a 38% increase on the 26 attacks reported in the previous year. This is the third time the postcode has appeared in the most high-risk list since Royal Mail began reporting postcode-specific figures.8th. The TN (Kent/Sussex/Surrey) and YO (York) postcode areas are the eighth joint highest-risk locations, with 35 dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers reported in each location.The TN (Kent/Sussex/Surrey) postcode area recorded a 38% decrease in dog attacks on Royal Mail postal workers this year, following a 33% increase in 2024/25. The TN postcode area has appeared on the list of most dangerous areas for dog attacks for 12 consecutive years and ranked as the most dangerous location for postal workers in 2022/23.The YO (York) postcode area has appeared on the list of dangerous postcodes three times since Royal Mail began reporting postcode-specific figures. The last time it appeared was in 2014/15. This year’s figure represents a 25% increase on the 28 incidents reported in 2024/25.9th. The LE (Leicester) postcode area appears on the list of high-risk locations for the first time, with 34 attacks recorded — a 31% increase on the 26 incidents reported in 2024/25.10th. The ST (Staffordshire) postcode area has featured on Royal Mail’s list of most dangerous areas for the second consecutive. This year, 31 dog attacks on postal workers were reported—a 23% drop on the 40 incidents recorded in 2024/25.‌Letterbox, garden and front door attacks1,048 dog attacks (52%) happened at the front door, up 4% from 1,005 last year. This shows that most incidents occur on private property, where postal workers have a legal right to access.A further 511 attacks (25%) took place in gardens, driveways or yards, while 135 (7%) happened on streets or roads. Another 324 injuries (16%) were caused through the letterbox.‌Dog attacks on Royal Mail colleagues resulted in 3,442 days of absence in 2025/26 - with the longest period ongoing at 300+ days.Dog owners should try thisEven the most lovable dog can be a danger to postal staff. Dogs are territorial by nature and if they feel they need to protect their owners, they can become unpredictable. To help, dog owners should try the following.Ensure your dog is out of the way before the postman or postwoman arrives. Place your pet in the back garden or a faraway room.Never open the door when your dog is behind you.Please ensure your dog is prevented from accessing or approaching our postman or postwoman when they call. This includes securing any access between the back and front garden and ensuring dogs in front gardens are safely contained and unable to reach the postman or postwoman.Dog attacks can happen when you’ve opened the door to sign for an item. Please keep your dog in another room before answering the door and make sure children don’t open the door, as dogs can push by them and attack.Give your dog some food or a toy to occupy them while your mail is being delivered.Wait 10 minutes after your mail has arrived to let your pet back into your hallway. Keep everything as calm and low-key as possible.If your dog likes to attack your mail, consider installing a wire letter receptacle. It will protect your post, and your postman’s or postwoman’s fingers.If it’s not practical for you to keep your dog away from a postman or postwoman delivering your mail, please consider fitting a secure mailbox on the edge of your property.Article continues belowVisit www.royalmail.com/dogawareness for more information on dog safety.