This PAS gives requirements and recommendations for
mail screening, set in the broader context of postal
security. It is targeted at those responsible for planning,
delivering or procuring mail handling and screening
services within organizations, as well as commercial
providers of such services.
It specifies measures to assist businesses and other
organizations in identifying and minimizing the impact
of items of mail that represent a threat, or could
otherwise cause concern or disruption. It also addresses
broader postal security measures aimed at ensuring
all incoming, outgoing and internal mail streams are
managed so as to minimize the risk of loss or theft of
valuable or sensitive items or information.
This PAS concentrates on letters and small parcels
entering the organization from any external source,
including public/commercial postal services, by hand
or by courier delivery.
Whilst many of the principles detailed in the PAS can
also be applied to improving the security of other,
larger-scale deliveries, these are not explicitly covered.
The security of electronic mail and associated IT
systems is outside the scope of this PAS.
This PAS does not propose a single standard of postal
security and screening. Instead, it sets out to assist
organizations in assessing their particular level(s) of
risk, and selecting and implementing commensurate
security measures. A series of screening levels (1 to 5)
is defined in terms of progressively more complex
screening measures; this is complemented by a series
of physical protection classes (A to D) that describe
incremental physical protective measures for mail
rooms and personnel. Another factor contributing to
the overall level of protection an organization derives
from its postal security measures is the location of its
mail facilities.