In the UK is it illegal to open someone else's post? What law is it and what's the maximum punishment?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Interfering with mail - Postal Services Act 2000 Section 84

Triable Summarily (Magistrates court)
6 Months and or a fine (Max)

A person commits an offence if they without reasonable excuse intentionally delay or open a postal packet in the course of transmission by post or intentionally opens a mail bag.

A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person's detriment and without reasonable excuse, opens a postal packet which they know or suspect to have been delivered incorrectly.

If you work for the Post service you could commit other offences under Section 83 triable either way (Magistrates or Crown court) and get a sentence of 2 years and or a fine.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Only one that has everything I asked, Thanks

Answer 2

It is illegal but proving it is another matter - unless someone has stolen something from your mail and you can prove it. I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted just for opening it though.

Answer 3

yes it is illegal to open someones post although i'm not to sure on the punishment for such things however i have never heard of this law being enforced as there might be good reason to open the mail ie fraud etc etc.

Answer 4

Not illegal, but if you make a habit of it, it becomes illegal for interferring with HM mail, 14 yrs imp. so watch it.

Answer 5

Depends if it is my post!

Answer 6

Yes. It is a criminal offence.
When in transit (postbox to letterbox) all mail is Her Majesty's property. Once it lands though the owner's letterbox, it becomes their property.

Tampering with mail that is anything but your property is an offence - either against the addressee, or the Queen. they take it very seriously as well look @ the story's in the papers about postmen getting sent to jail

Answer 7

yes it is.

Answer 8

it is illegal but what is worse is that my coat that was posted has gone missing,via the post.......someone has had it,i think it was the theiving posties at the depot

Answer 9

Depends if you have their permission or not. If you open mail not intended for you,deliberately,without the knowledge of the recipient,it then becomes a criminal offence,which does carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Interfering with HM Mail, in any way,is a criminal offence.

Answer 10

i had to open some mail that wasnt mine. The previous owners moved out and left a lot of unpaid bills behind, when i started picking up threatening messages from British gas and NTL and a debt collection agency on my answerphone i had to open the mail to find out what was going on and get a contact number!!!!