The Metropolitan Police has been called in after a fake letter claiming asylum seekers are being moved into homes across Bexley was distributed to residents.

The letter, purporting to be from Bexley Council’s ‘Deputy Director of Housing’, was posted to some homes in the borough before circulating online.

It falsely claimed that Bexley Council was converting houses in the area to accommodate asylum seekers under government “asylum accommodation arrangements”.

Bexley Council has referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police and issued a statement stressing that the letter was “not from the council”.

“We have been made aware of a fake letter posted to some homes, supposedly from our Development Management Team, titled ‘Neighbourhood Notice – New Residential Occupancy’ and dated 24/8/2026,” the Council’s statement read.

“We wish to make it clear that this letter is NOT from the Council and we have referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police.

“If you have received such a letter, please contact us via [email protected].”

The fake letter contains a series of alarming claims about asylum seekers, including that “young men aged approximately 19-40 years old” would be entering the community and that “the rules in their home countries are different from ours”.

It also tells residents how women and girls should dress when leaving their homes.

“If they have to venture out, please make sure they are dressed appropriately so as not to tempt the men in any way. Long skirts or trousers are advised, with shoulders covered,” the letter reads.

Residents are also advised to keep animals indoors or consider rehousing them, as well as to keep cars and windows locked and secure garden tools and bikes.

The letter goes on to warn residents not to “racially abuse or show prejudice” towards those supposedly being housed in the borough, referring to them as the council’s “guests”.

It claims Bexley is “now officially a sanctuary for asylum seekers” and asks residents to “be kind” and show “respect and appreciation” towards those being “newly integrated” into the community.

Louie French, Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, condemned the fake letter, saying it had been used to “scare” residents through misinformation.

“It is concerning that someone has gone out of their way to try and scare people like this,” he said.

“This is now a police matter so I won’t be sharing the fake letter, but this is another reminder to question things online if they don’t sound right.

“Sadly we now have fake letters to add to the many fake accounts on Facebook deliberately spreading misinformation in our community.”

Another local resident said the letter had been used to create “panic and hysteria” in the borough as she urged people not to fall victim to the hoax.

Councillor Chis Purfield added: “There is a letter that has supposedly been sent to residents from Bexley Council about homing asylum seekers in the area and guidelines to keep safe.

“This is a hoax to cause panic and upset amongst you all.

“No letter has been sent out from the housing department. Please do not entertain these scaremongering people, do not share.”

Some 14,526 migrants have arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel in small boats this year as of August 2, according to provisional figures from the Home Office.

This is 43% below the number of arrivals at this stage last year, which was 25,436.

It is also 15% below the number at this point in 2024, which was 17,031.

The record for the largest number of migrants to arrive in the UK in a calendar year is 45,774, which was set in 2022.