LTB135/17 Royal Mail CDV Van Gunpoint Hijacking in Hull Today:

No. 135/2017

3 March 2017

Our Ref: V4/17

Royal Mail CDV Van Gunpoint Hijacking in Hull Today:

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

A number of enquiries and reports are being received by the Health, Safety & Environment Department at CWU/HQ in relation to an incident which occurred this morning involving a CWU Member and Royal Mail Postman whilst driving a Royal Mail Car Derived Van CDV in the Hull area.

The member who parks his Royal Mail Van at home under the authorised official vehicle overnight retention’ arrangements was driving to his empty Royal Mail Fiat CD Van to work at the Saxon Way Delivery Office in Hessle near Hull when the road was blocked by a third party vehicle, from which emerged two masked gunmen who held him at gunpoint and took a mobile phone and personal belongings from him before making off in the Royal Mail Van which was subsequently abandoned a short distance away where a further carjacking incident occurred and subsequently a series of further similar carjacking crimes occurred in the area and it is believed those responsible went on to commit further similar crimes. During one such incident later in the day a man was apprehended by the crew of a Refuse Collection Truck who were near the scene.

The member has been assisted during the day by both Royal Mail Management, the Royal Mail Occupational Health Service and CWU Officials from the Branch, namely the Area Delivery Rep and Area Safety Rep who have provided support and assistance. I am pleased to say that despite suffering a shocking, traumatic experience our member is unharmed and is also being assisted by family members with whom he will be staying tonight.

A Police and Royal Mail Security Investigation is underway. The Royal Mail vehicle has been recovered and is being subjected to a forensic examination along with other evidence recovered.

The CWU through our local Official will be giving every assistance and will be involved in a post incident Security and Safety Review.

A Humberside Policestatement said that Police are currently responding to a number of aggravated vehicle thefts in the Hull, Hessle and Hendon areas this morning.

Royal Mail Security personnel will be visiting the Saxon Way Delivery Office in Hessle tomorrow morning to brief the Delivery Office workforce and give safety and security advice. CWU Branch Area Officials will be present.

Will all those making enquiries please accept this as a formal response.

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer