**Due to the terrible incident of 30 April, I feel it is important to here share my huge condolences and empathy for the grieving, injured and affected of that attack. I cannot imagine the terrible loss that is being felt right now. It is horrific.
The item used was an apparently illegal (since 2008) cheap replica samurai sword - an item already banned in the UK for the last 16 years.
Unfortunately, this highlights that banning something does not insure safety. The majority of stabbings are committed with kitchen knives and swords are statistically very rarely used by criminals.
The police showed great courage in dealing with this attacker, as they did in the Tower Bridge knife attack of 2017, and I would like to offer my support (as I have previously assisted the police) if it is of use.**
executivecomplaints@parcelforce.co.uk or pfwaccountquery@parcelforce.co.uk
Department for Culture, Media and Sport - enquiries@dcms.gov.uk
Home Office - public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
LETTER 1
This affects sports, museums, antiques, TV/movies, heritage events, the military and much more.
I have also included my MP.
Yesterday we became aware of the intention by Parcelforce to totally prohibit the transport of all swords, including antiques, museum items, theatrical props and fencing equipment, within the UK and internationally. Without exception. This cripples a huge number of cultural, historical and sporting businesses.
A number of us heard about Royal Mail's intention to do this some time ago and speaking to our account managers at Parcelforce we were assured by them that Parcelforce services for account holders would remain unchanged in this regard, for account holders. Now we are being told that a U-turn has been made on that decision, coming into force very quickly, on 7 May.
This impacts a huge number of people and businesses, including the antiques trade, TV/movie industry, theatres, schools, universities, fencing clubs, historical reenactment societies, museums and makers. Yet kitchen knives, which were estimated by Kent Police as used in over 70% of stabbings, are still being taken by Royal Mail and Parcelforce. We cannot make sense of this policy decision, or what possible gains it offers.
We feel incredibly disappointed and betrayed by Royal Mail and Parcelforce, with whom many of us have had business accounts for decades. We have complied with all laws and regulations, carried out age checks and used age verification services. Many of us have customers worldwide and are renowned for our products. Our antique, movie/theatre, heritage/museum and fencing trades are world famous and we trade with the world.
We therefore request a meeting with your management to discuss the reasoning for this decision, and the options going forwards, as soon as possible. There must be some alternative arrangement possible.
You have a specific firearms shipping team, and options for transporting antique and modern firearms, as well as ammunition and explosives. It seems reasonable and completely viable therefore that a special service can be tagged onto this for swords and similar items.
Surely we cannot be in a situation whereby it is easier to post live ammunition and firearms than a blunt fencing foil to a school or a prop for a TV production.
With Parcelforce an item now featured on the Antiques Roadshow and sold in auction cannot be shipped anywhere, even overseas. Our Olympic fencers cannot import equipment. Museums cannot transfer historical swords to other museums. Families of serving military officers cannot send them their parade dress swords.
There must be a reasonable solution. We look forward to your constructive thinking on this problem.
For LETTER 2 see pinned comment.
19 июн 2024
