Cost of sending banned items to troops 12.11.12
22Christmas may still be just under six weeks away, but it is getting close in postal terms if you want to reach loved ones overseas.
This year the British Forces Post Office is keen to avoid unnecessary delays by warning people against sending out banned items.
Every week in November the BFPO have to sort through some 400 tonnes of mail -- rising to 500 in December.
With this kind of traffic to contend with BFPO is keen to remind people what not to put in their parcels.
In the last few weeks alone BFPO workers have pulled packages off the conveyor belt after detecting toy guns and grenades. They may not look very real to the naked eye but seen through the X ray they are pretty convincing. Aerosols and lighters can not be sent because of fire risk onboard the plane.
It is a process that can delay packages by as much as three days, not to mention the lost hours staff spend opening and re-packing parcels
This year the BFPO have released a new app to remind people about the restrictions. It also works out how much a package will cost to send and when the last post deadlines are for Christmas. Poor addressing is another brake on the system.
Earlier this month BFPO also again warned the public now to send unsolicited mail but instead support forces charities so troops receive the presents they need most -- the ones their families and loved ones send.