28 May 2009 : Forces Post Office Services to NATO HQs To Go

As part of the Planning Round 09, 12 Forces Post Offices (FPOs) providing support to the UK elements of NATO HQs will close. Future postal support to these locations will be provided by international civilian channels.

The withdrawal of BFPO services will have a significant impact for personnel and their families stationed in these locations and also for the postal and courier staff employed there.

As a Federation, we are concerned about the consequences these closures will have on RAF Serving Personnel and their families. The BFPO Postal Service for those serving outside the UK was considered essential and are thought to provide a higher standard of service than their civilian counterparts, which is why BFPOs was set up to serve in all overseas Commands in the first place.

These closures are likely to have a far reaching effect. A BFPO address confirms family identity as UK taxpayers whilst living abroad, it is recognised by banks and other financial institutions and allows police checks to be carried out on family members, requiring them, more swiftly.

In addition to losing the mail, the Post Office counter services will also disappear, leaving personnel and families to converse with the local civilian post office staff using the local language.

The Federation is already receiving calls and emails on this subject indicating the strength of feeling and the Federation have been interviewed by BFBS Radio today (Thu 28th May).

We will represent the views of RAF Service Personnel and their families to those senior staffs and ministers who write the policy highlighting the problems and disadvantage these cutbacks will cause.

At a time when people are supposedly at the top of the agenda and the Service Command Paper is seeking to eliminate disadvantage this is very bad news.
If you would like to add your comments, please contact the Federation by sending an email to enquires@raf-ff.org.uk

The Forces Post Offices to close are:

BFPO 6   Lisbon Portugal
BFPO 8   Naples Italy
BFPO 26   SHAPE Belgium
BFPO 28   Brunssum Holland
BFPO 49   Brussels Belgium
BFPO 50   Stavanger Norway
BFPO 61   Milan Italy
BFPO 62   Valencia Spain
BFPO 63   Norfolk VA
BFPO 65   Rome Italy
BFPO 109   Ramstein Germany
BFPO 150   Karup Denmark