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!

[WellThisIsShit]

You’ll be absolutely fine, please don’t worry!

Even if it was illegal (which I’m really sure it isn’t), the authorities would A. Never know about it B. Would never take any action and C. Would get laughed out of court if they did take any action! Not exactly ‘in the public interests’ to pursue a (shock horror!) envelope opened (and drumroll...) in someone’s own house

Sleep easy :)

[Stormzy]

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 actually do criminology at uni and wrote an essay last week that mentioned that the police force in a certain borough would only investigate burglaries that happened at even numbered houses. Ignored any that happened at 1, 3, 5, 7 etc.

Ok I feel pretty silly now

[AgentProvocateur]

My DS list his once, and it was handed into the police. We have an unusual name (and we live next to the police station) and a policeman dropped it off. But he said we were lucky because they’re meant to destroy any passports that are handed in

[DrFoxtrot]

I had to collect my passport from a courier depot 45 miles away from my house when I wasn't in to sign for it

I'm astounded that loads of people have just had them popped through the letterbox.

[Stormzy]

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.

Erm, I did actually say in my OP that I knew my opening it wasn't illegal as it wasn't done intentionally or maliciously. My question was specifically about not returning passports to the home office.

[Ttbb]

It's illegal to open it if it wasn't addressed to you but seeing as he got it in the end and wasn't annoyed I don't see the problem.

[CourtneyLoveIsMySpiritAnimal]

I’d forget about opening post that’s not addressed to you I’ve done it loads and I’ve not been arrested once

But just to be clear, did it have your address on and the boys name? Or had it just been posted to the wrong address?

If it’s the latter, I wouldn’t even think about it any more.

[Splinterz]

According to the Postal Services Act 2000, it is illegal to open mail that is not addressed to you.

Drivel. Urban myth. Opening mail for criminal intent is quite obviously illegal, opening it for legitimate purposes ie redirecting it, is not illegal.

Pfft @ armchair lawyers.

[ShoesHaveSouls]

It's only illegal if you open it with malicious intent.

OP clearly didn't have any malicious intent.

[ShoesHaveSouls]

Oh, and my passports have always been just put through the letterbox. I've always been mildly surprised about it, but never had one go missing. They always look v innocuous though - just a plain brown envelope.

[Stormzy]

I know guys. I've been on MN long enough to know that. No heavy sighing needed on my account

[Stormzy]

But just to be clear, did it have your address on and the boys name? Or had it just been posted to the wrong address?

If it’s the latter, I wouldn’t even think about it any more.

It was the former. But he lives a few doors down from me, he's 15, and has been to school with my cousin since they were 11.

What are the risks of it being the former, just out of interest? I was just guessing from my OP. Is it that he could be committing identity fraud and getting it sent to my address?

[BerylStrEeek]

OP, my sighing was not on your account. It was the posters (and your friend) who were telling you what you had done was illegal, or technically illegal.

It's not. I shall cease my heavy sighing for now

[CotswoldStrife]

It had your address on the envelope? I think I'd be checking that with the Passport Office tbh.

[Stormzy]

It had your address on the envelope? I think I'd be checking that with the Passport Office tbh.

Would you? Even if you know he lived at say, number 12 of your road, and you lived at number 15? A 15 year old boy? What are the risks?

[19lottie82]

it’s illegal to open any post not addressed
to you.

Sigh.......... no, it isn’t. It’s only illegal to open it if you intend to cause detriment to the addressee.

[Itsonkyme]

Oh My God!!!!!! Are some people really so stupid?????

.....IT'S NOT, NOT, NOT ILLEGALLLLLLLLLLLL....

[CheshireChat]

What address comes up on the actual passport? Do British passports actually have an address on them?

[RockinHippy]

I think I understand what your friend might mean. If it wasn’t addressed to your address & you opened it, then yes it could be illegal. Though as it was accidental I doubt it would be followed up & besides the boy was happy, so no harm done.

If it was incorrectly addressed, so had your address on the front, then no it wasn’t illegal for you to open it, even if it’s not your name. I was surprised by that, but it solved a mail problem we had here

[Makesmilingyourbesthobby]

Not illegal, as for the signing for passport or just have it through letterbox depends entirely on what postage you selected for it to be posted to you (recorded cost you more)

[Cavender]

All that actually happened here is that post intended for a neighbour was incorrectly put through your door and you kindly reunited it with the proper person.

[Jux]

We often open mail not addressed to us. It has our address on the envelope but the name is of a lodger we once had who occasionally uses our address fraudulently.

We have no qualms about opening his post and take delight in phoning whoever is demanding money from him this time and giving them a run-down of how he operates, alternative names he is known to use, likely places to find him and his fb address so they can tell the debt collectors what he looks like.

He steals thousands of pounds (sometimes tens of thousands) from these people, goodness knows how.

[Ontheboardwalk]

Mine was put through my letterbox, not the point, however...

You're saying it had his name but your address on the letter? Is that correct??

That doesn't sound right and needs reporting.

[Ontheboardwalk]

Oh and I've opened many a dodgy letter addressed to random people delivered to my address after I moved in to local police and DVLA and I've not been locked up yet!

[Abra1d]

If he has given your address to the passport office instead of his it doesn’t sound right.