In 2023, police forces and government bodies in the UK received reports of 7,983 suspicious parcels, according to data obtained through Freedom of Information (FoI) requests. The requests, submitted by solutions provider Quadient, revealed that 40% of these parcels, totaling 3,230, contained hazardous, dangerous, or illegal items.
Quadient’s investigation also uncovered that 37% of all government bodies did not report every suspicious package they received, suggesting that the actual number of such incidents could be even higher. Anthony Coo, product head at Quadient, expressed concern over the underreporting, stating, “We are almost certainly only seeing the tip of the iceberg. Organizations don’t report all suspicious post to the police: if a package doesn’t look suspect, turns out to not be harmful, or if the organization or individual thinks they can ‘shrug off’ the contents, then why report it?”
The data indicated that the destinations of the reported parcels were fairly evenly distributed, with business addresses receiving 36%, private addresses 33%, and other locations such as public spaces receiving 31%. Quadient found no clear seasonal trends in the reporting of suspicious parcels, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance.
Highlighting the risks associated with these parcels, Coo added, “An unexpecting receptionist, post room worker, or colleague handing over a package could easily fall victim, especially as we’ve seen that many of these packages are only designed to harm the person opening them.”
Among the hazardous items reported in 2023 was a package containing a Stanley blade, intentionally sent to cause harm. This and other incidents underscore the potential dangers posed by such deliveries, particularly to unsuspecting recipients.
Coo emphasized the importance of robust security measures in business settings, stating, “In the case of businesses, employers have a duty of care to protect their employees from potentially harmful packages. Making sure there are processes in place to identify, report, and quarantine potentially hazardous deliveries, such as security scanners, is a must.”
The revelation comes in the context of increasing concerns about the use of mail services to transport illegal substances. An ITV News investigation into illegal drug websites found some advertising that their products were shipped via mail, with one site explicitly stating it used Royal Mail for deliveries.
In response to these findings, a Royal Mail spokesperson said, “We often work closely with police forces and encourage our postmen and women to report any suspicious items to management, which will then be referred to the authorities.” This incident highlights the ongoing challenges and risks associated with mail and package delivery in today’s digital and globalized environment.
