Delivery driver sacked after dumping Devon parcels

South Devon MP Voaden slams Evri

An Evri delivery driver dumped his parcels in a Devon field because he ran out of time to finish his deliveries, according to a local MP.

South Devon’s Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden told a Westminster debate on postal services that people were turning to private companies because they no longer trusted Royal Mail with their deliveries.

But going private brought its own problems, she said.

Ms Voaden told fellow MPs that some local people had been receiving hospital appointment notices after the day of their appointment, meaning they missed vital medical care.

And, she said, bank cards and PINs were arriving at the same time, when they are supposed to be delivered separately for security reasons.

She went on: “An Evri driver dumped loads of parcels in a field because it was impossible for him to get around the route in the time given by his employer.

“People are using private delivery services because they do not trust Royal Mail, and we are seeing serious failings. Royal Mail has questions to answer about the sustainability of its network in rural areas.”

Other MPs also highlighted issues with the Evri parcel delivery service.

David Chadwick, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on Wales, said: “For many of my constituents, Evri’s failures have meant money lost, ruined Christmases, wasted time and a growing sense that rural communities are once again expected to put up with worse service.”

A spokesperson for Evri said the company delivered more than 900 million parcels each year, including to rural areas like Devon.

“We set the industry standard for right-first-time deliveries,” they said. “Detailed data analysis ensures we can accurately predict how long a route will take to deliver, and we have invested in technology, like geo-fenced deliveries and AI-powered tracking, to ensure parcels arrive safely and on time.

“We’re the only delivery company to mandate a photo for proof of delivery, and we have robust performance monitoring for our couriers.”