S.T.O.P. Postal Devices CBT Training Program

All individuals and organisations are potential targets for postal devices and bombs, which have been sent in the past for political or religious reasons, for extortion and by mentally unstable individuals.

Recognising postal devices is difficult, because their physical appearance is limited only by the imagination of the senders. Postal devices are one of the most common means of criminal and terrorist attack upon organisations and individuals worldwide. The US postal service was thrown into crisis, in October 2001, when anthrax contaminated letters were sent to several government officials and in December 2003 European Commission President Romano Prodi narrowly escaped unhurt after a parcel bomb was delivered to his home.

The traditional postal bomb takes many forms – parcels, padded “jiffybags”, or envelopes of any shape or size. Postal bombs are generally designed to kill or maim the person who is opening them, but a parcel bomb may be large and designed to cause mass casulaties and structural damage.

A postal bomb can often be triggered off by any, even a slight, attempt to open the outer cover. The ease with which postal devices can be sent and the anonymity afforded the sender makes them extremely attractive and deadly tools for vicious and calculating individuals.

Hazardous items that have been sent by post include bombs, incendiary devices, hazardous chemicals, razor blades, needles and broken glass. It is imperative that all personnel who handle or receive mail become familiar with the characteristics of suspect parcels, and that they follow correct procedures to mitigate the postal device threat.

S.TO.P. Postal Devices is an educational multimedia training program that uses images, video, audio, text and animation to increase the security awareness of personnel in the workplace, promote understanding of the threat posed by postal devices and provide essential procedures to cope efficiently with the threat. 

S.TO.P. Postal Devices is designed for security officers, mailroom supervisors and staff, facility managers, office and building service managers, receptionists, secretaries and all personnel who handle postal mail.

The program is used by police crime prevention officers, postal authorities, banks, retailers and corporate clients worldwide.

• Introduction to the threat

• Past events analysis

• Suspicious signs

• Postal device threat indicators

• Postal IEDs (bombs)

• Contaminated mailings

• Projectile devices

• Non-lethal devices (broken glass, razor blades, etc.)

• Threat analysis

• Proactive mail security

• Developing a mail screening system

• Mail screening procedures

• Response procedures

• Technical aids to assist in screening letters & parcels