Bexley Council has confirmed that a letter distributed to residents in the London Borough of Bexley, which instructs them to 'keep their daughters indoors' due to migrants being housed in the area, is a hoax. The council has referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police.
Fake letter details and claims
The fraudulent letter, which was distributed through letterboxes across the South East London area this week, claims that asylum seekers aged between 19 and 40 are set to be housed within the Bexley area. It advises that daughters ought to be kept inside "where possible" and, should they venture outdoors, they must dress "appropriately".
The letter prominently displays the Bexley Council logo, but the local authority has confirmed it has no relation to the council. The document is titled 'Neighbourhood Notice – New Residential Occupancy' and is dated August 24.
Content of the fraudulent letter
The letter sets out a series of alarming warnings to local residents. One passage reads: "If you have young daughters, please keep them inside where possible." It further claims that, should daughters need to go outside, they must be "dressed appropriately as not to tempt the men in any way". It goes on to advise that "long skirts or trousers are advised, with shoulders covered".
The letter continues with additional claims regarding how residents should safeguard themselves and their possessions. It states that dogs must be kept indoors wherever possible as "dogs are offensive to some religions", and even proposes that residents should consider "rehousing" their pets.
Residents are additionally warned to keep their vehicles and property windows locked, while garden equipment, bicycles and other "movable property" should be concealed from view and stored securely. The letter goes on to warn residents not to "racially abuse or show prejudice" towards those supposedly being housed, referring to them as the council's "guests".
It claims Bexley is "now officially a sanctuary for asylum seekers" and urges residents to "be kind" and demonstrate "respect and appreciation" towards those being "newly integrated" into the community. The document also features a section outlining supposed rules for both residents and those living in the "new flats", covering matters such as respecting private property and public spaces, disposing of household waste properly, keeping noise to a reasonable level and adhering to parking regulations.
Council response and public reaction
Bexley Council confirmed it had been made aware of the letter and said in a statement: "We wish to make it clear that this letter is NOT from the Council and we have referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police." Residents who have received the letter have been urged to get in touch with Bexley Council through its Community Safety team.
The bogus letter has sparked a mixed response amongst locals, with some revealing they were initially alarmed upon receiving it, while others called on people to disregard claims circulating on social media. One resident described the letter as "horrific", adding: "It has probably been done as a joke but its not funny. Very realistic though and got my blood boiling."
A further resident commented: "Now people can stop with these scaremongering videos on social media." A local likewise urged members of the public to exercise greater caution about what they encounter online, stating: "Hopefully people start using their brains a bit and not believing every video they see on social media."
Another man expressed his hope that those behind the hoax would be tracked down, and suggested that anyone who had received one of the letters ought to hold onto it for possible forensic examination. The fraudulent letter claims to originate from the council's Development Management Team and bears the address of Bexley Civic Offices in Bexleyheath as its header. It also features council contact details and claims to have been signed by a "Deputy Director of Housing Bexley Borough".
