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U.S. Postal Service: Physical Security Measures Have Increased at Some Core Facilities, but Security Problems Continue

GAO-05-48 Published: Nov 16, 2004. Publicly Released: Nov 16, 2004.
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Highlights

Mail and postal facilities are tempting targets for theft and other criminal acts. Approximately 800,000 U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees process about 700 million pieces of mail daily at almost 38,000 facilities nationwide. Criminals attack letter carriers to get mail containing valuables and burglarize postal facilities to get cash and money orders. These activities at USPS facilities can put at risk the integrity of the mail and the safety of employees, customers, and assets. We looked at physical security measures at large facilities that perform automated mail-sorting functions, which on the basis of discussions with USPS, we defined as "core" facilities. Specifically, our objectives were to provide information on (1) what USPS has determined to be the physical security requirements at core facilities, (2) what security measures have been implemented and what security problems exist at USPS core facilities, and (3) what are USPS's plans to respond to identified security problems.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of the Postmaster General In order to support the Inspection Service's efforts to improve physical security at USPS core facilities, the Postmaster General should develop a plan, with objectives, time frames, and resources needed, for correcting and updating USPS' security database so that USPS can accurately assess the status of physical security at core facilities, identify needed improvements, and assess progress that facilities have made.
Closed – Implemented
In January 2005, USPS developed a project plan to correct and update its security database. The plan detailed tasks, milestones, as well as actual start and completion dates. However, the plan did not include information on project costs or resources needed to complete the tasks. Nevertheless, USPS has completed the vast majority of the tasks identified in the plan and has initiated action on the remainder. The actions USPS has taken included correcting facility designations to address duplicative data issues, simplifying user logon capability to resolve missing data problems due to incomplete security surveys, and establishing a user certification that updated security data are accurate. These USPS actions were designed to address GAO's concerns, which lead to its recommendation.

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Topics

Access controlCrime preventionCrimesFacility securityPhysical securityPostal facilitiesPostal servicePostal service employeesStrategic planningDatabase management systems