To think this isn't illegal?

[Stormzy]

A passport got delivered through my letterbox today. I opened the envelope, because it's only me and my toddler that live here, I wasn't really thinking and we've never had post be delivered that wasn't for us. So I'm pretty sure this bit is definitely not illegal as I had no malicious intention.

Anyway, I saw it was a passport, and felt like I recognised the young boy's name in it. Searched him on Facebook, he's friends with my little cousin. I messaged her to message him to tell him and he came round absolutely chuffed saying I had saved his holiday and he was going away in a few days and if I had sent it back he would have missed it.

I was pretty pleased with myself. But I told my friend (we text pretty much all day so wasn't boasting or anything, just a relatively unusual thing to happen so I shared), and she said I could get into big trouble for this and it was illegal.

Is this true? The boy was 15 and goes to school with my cousin so I knew he was unlikely to be committing fraud or an illegal immigrant or anything like that. Surely I won't get in trouble!

Technically it’s illegal to open any post not addressed to you. Presumably you had to sign for it? Odd you didn’t notice it wasn’t your name then. Doubt anyone will be reporting you though

Mine just came through the post too.

Just had a look and it says only some postcodes are flagged as having to sign. I always thought my area was quite nice as well

Well if wouldn't be very useful as it says he was born in 2002

Wonder why it came to your addres's, you would think they would make sure they put passports through the correct door.

You don’t normally sign for passports they’re delivered by courier and posted through the letter box.

So even if you had broken the law by opening it who on earth does your friend think might report this dreadful crime

Ignore her

So even if you had broken the law by opening it who on earth does your friend think might report this dreadful crime

Ignore her

From the Postal Services Act 2000:
(3)A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.

You did have a reasonable excuse (not expecting mail for someone else at your address) and you didn't act to the intended recipient's detriment.

A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.

X-postCatzpyjamas!

I just got a little bit scared as it did have a number to phone on the envelope and it said if not in Britain report to the British Embassy immediately and the tone was just a little bit scary. But I read this after I told the boy to come get it. Disclaimer: anxiety. At least I can sleep easy tonight knowing I'm not going to get raided at 3am by the border police

Great minds think alike...

Yes it's illegal to open post which isn't addresses to you but in this case where it was completely innocently done and saved what could have been a nightmare for them I'm sure they won't shop you 😂.

I only know it's technically illegal as my (now) DH and I used to jokingly tell my MIL we were going to report her to the police as she used to open all his post when he lived at home, before we moved in together, even though he repeatedly told her not to.

I recently got a new passport and it was just posted through my box, not signed for or anything. Technically yes it’s illegal to open post not addressed to you but you did it by accident and got it to the intended recipient - everyone’s happy!

I have had 3 adult passports in my life, none of them have had to be signed for, but I have heard that certain addresses (or certain circumstances) require a signature.

I’ve always signed for my passports deliveeed by the courier. Our latest ones were in September.

I wonder why the difference?

HamSandwitches sorry read your post after I posted mine!

Given that the police don't have the time or resources to investigate some offences like burglaries (so I'm told, not sure if this is true) then they are hardly going to be concerned with somebody opening a letter delivered to their house in error and then passing it on to the intended recipient. Ignore your friend.

I think what we should be saying Stormzy, is what a good detective you are in finding the boy who's passport was delivered to you accidentally. Then getting his passport to him so he could go on his holiday.
All the rest of this thread is people getting up themselves as usual. God, they are sooooo boring. Im just pleased that I will never, ever, have to meet them.

CoughLaughFart lollllzzzzzzzzz :D

What incentive is there for the police to pursue this? ‘Woman gives passport to boy it belongs to’ - not exactly up there with the Great Train Robbery.

Thanks RustyBear and CatzPyjamas. I was just starting a fit of heavy sighing, thinking FFS I'm going to have to cut & paste from the Postal Services Act again.

How did this become so ingrained in our nation's psyche that it is illegal to open post that is delivered to your house? My Mum is insistent that it is completely illegal to open post not addressed to you. No matter how many times I tell her it isn't.

Ha if it's illegal I'm a proper criminal. Shopped the previous tenant loads of times to debt collectors (having had letter after letter posted through despite her moving out years ago!)
I got sick of all the post opened one, called them and gave them new address. They took my address off the system. Worked through about 6 companies, now it seems they've all finally stopped. Maybe she's having them at her door instead for a change 🤷‍♀️
Hardly think I'm gonna get done for it! 😂

Mine have twice been delivered to the wrong address by the courier (despite the correct one being on the envelope), and both times put through the letterbox without asking anyone to sign. At least once I think it was meant to be a signed-for service, but the courier scribbled initials instead.

Both times it was brought round to me, and I was very grateful. The first time it was a fairly officious neighbour who made me sign a declaration to say that he'd brought it to me, and then he was going to put in a formal complaint, as his own had been misdelivered another time. I was lucky he decdied to give it to me instead of sending it back as he wanted to.

The other was a house that was being renovated between tenants, and was hardly used. Luckily I happened to know the owner, and he came occasionally to do work on the house, so after about 3 weeks, found the post lying there and brought it to me, but I had already been complaining that the passport was taking a long time. It had only taken about 2 days to process, so I wasn't at the point of being unuduly concerned, as it was still within the overall time that I'd expected to wait.

The couriers the passport office use are shit.

She thinks it’s a crime you opened it by mistake then handed it the correct recipient.

She’s either a total drama llama or deranged.

“Officer, I mistakenly opened some mail which was delivered to me by mistake, realised it was passport for boy round the corner, and gave it to him”

“ that’s nice, do you have something to report madam?”

Beryl - I share your weariness, but when two people put chapter and verse on a thread, and within two minutes TheCatsMother makes the same incorrect assertion, the myth will continue to circulate!