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{{Short description|Database of addresses in the United Kingdom}}
The '''Postcode Address File''' ('''PAF''') is a database which contains all known "Delivery Points" and [[postcodes in the United Kingdom]]. The PAF is a collection of over 29 million Royal Mail postal addresses and 1.8 million [[postcode]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAF Stats|url=http://www.poweredbypaf.com/category/paf-stats/|website=Powered By Paf|publisher=Royal Mail Group Ltd|accessdate=9 March 2016}}</ref> It is available in a variety of formats including [[File Transfer Protocol|FTP]] download, [[compact disc]] and previously available as [[Digital Audio Tape]]. As owner of the PAF, Royal Mail is required by [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/26/section/116 section 116] of the [[Postal Services Act 2000]] to maintain the data and make it available on reasonable terms. A charge is made for lookup services or wholesale supply of PAF data. Charges are regulated by [[Ofcom]]. It includes Small User Residential, Small User Organisation and Large User Organisation details. There have been requests as part of the [[Open Data in the United Kingdom|Open Data]] campaign for the PAF to be released by the government free of charge.<ref>{{cite news|first=Charles |last=Arthur |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/22/postcode-petition-fails-blocked-number-ten |title=Developers dismayed as No.10 blocks free postcode file |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |date=2010-01-22 |accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref>▼
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{distinguish|ZIP (file format)}}
▲The '''Postcode Address File''' ('''PAF''') is a database
==Usage==
The "delivery points" held on the PAF are routing instructions used by Royal Mail staff to sort and deliver mail quickly and accurately. Elements of the address, including the post town and postcode, are occasionally subject to change, reflecting the operational structure of the postal delivery system. Each address is therefore not necessarily a geographically accurate description of where a property is located.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.postcomm.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--changing-postal-addresses/PAFCodeofPracticeReviewFinalDoc.pdf |title=Ofcom | Postal Services |publisher=
==File structure==
Royal Mail's Programmers Guide<ref name=pg7v6>{{cite web|url=https://www.poweredbypaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Latest-Programmers_guide_Edition-7-Version-6.pdf|title=Programmers Guide – Technical specifications for users of PAF® and associated raw data products, Edition 7, Version 6|date=2013|publisher=[[Royal Mail]]|access-date=2022-08-30}}</ref> lists the following address elements of PAF and their respective maximum field lengths:
{|class="wikitable"
Line 24 ⟶ 30:
| Dependent Thoroughfare Descriptor || || 20
|-
| Thoroughfare Name || Street
|-
| Thoroughfare Descriptor || || 20
|-
| rowspan="3" | Locality || Double Dependent Locality || Small villages
|-
| [[Post town#Locality|Dependent Locality]] || || 35
|-
| [[Post town
|-
| Postcode || [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode]] || || 7
Line 39 ⟶ 45:
|}
Some versions of the PAF also contain the '' 'Delivery Point Suffix (DPS)' '' used in [[RM4SCC|CBC (Customer Bar Code)]]. Alternatively the DPS can be found using Royal Mail's '' 'Postcode Information File (PIF)'
==Licensing==
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On the other hand, an example of external use would be a company which provides a PAF-based address look-up on their customer facing website for their own customers to use when they order goods or services.
Royal Mail provide licensing advice on their
==Public
Public sector organisations can now use PAF under the public sector licence use terms. The current public sector licence was renewed in April 2023 and runs until 31 March 2028.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-sector-access-to-royal-mail-postcode-address-file-agreed-to-2028 Public sector access to Royal Mail Postcode Address File agreed to 2028], Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Geospatial Commission, published 20 April 2023, accessed 16 August 2023.</ref>
The 2023-2028 public sector licence covers England, Wales and Scotland, and was procured centrally by the Geospatial Commission so that usage is free at the point of use for delivery of vital public services by the UK government, devolved administrations, local authorities, emergency services, health services, and search and rescue organisations. The contract now also incorporates Royal Mail Not Yet Built and Multiple Residence data.
Royal Mail has worked along with the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) & the Scottish Government to develop the Public Sector Licence. The Public Sector Licence is being centrally paid for by these organisations so individual public sector organisations will no longer need to return PAF licence fees to Royal Mail.▼
▲
The eligible public sector organisations will be able to use PAF within their organisation and on their website for non-commercial purposes. In addition, licensed public sector organisations will be able to share data with other licensed organisations and work collaboratively on data-led projects. The following types of Organisations will be eligible:▼
▲
==Alias data==
The
The
*The
*The
*The
*The
Royal Mail, in their guide to the data products<ref>[ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/PAF_Digest_Dec_03.pdf PAF Digest]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, p12</ref> imply that the county alias information was provided when Royal Mail removed the former postal county from the main file.
==Errors==
Royal Mail acknowledges that the PAF contains errors, and publishes forms for submitting error reports. A very small number of addresses are not listed correctly, and others (especially new developments) may not be listed at all for a
==Costs and public availability==
Between 2004 and 2006 a consultation was taken about the future management of the PAF. The proposal to release it for use at low or no cost was rejected, and the business model where it was used to raise money from profitable corporations was retained.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psc.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--management-of-information.html|title=Postcode Address File
The accounts for the PAF for 2005/6 disclosed an income of £18million, 8.6% of which was profit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psc.gov.uk/postcomm/live/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--management-of-information/PAF_decision_doc.pdf|title=Royal Mail's Future management of PAF|date=April 2007|access-date=5 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324084021/http://www.psc.gov.uk/postcomm/live/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--management-of-information/PAF_decision_doc.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Following a
==See also==
*[[National Land and Property Gazetteer]]
*[[One Scotland Gazetteer]]
==References==
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==External links==
*[http://www.poweredbypaf.com PAF from Royal Mail]
{{UK postal system}}
[[Category:Postal
[[Category:Postcodes in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:
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