A letterbox is a small opening in a door, but it can give access to the inside of a home. This article summarises the London Fire Brigade (LFB) public page “Reducing arson with letterbox protection” and LFB’s published “Arson reduction letterbox policy” (policy number 494, reviewed as current on 25 March 2024 and last amended on 13 June 2025). The service described is LFB’s, which covers Greater London. Other fire and rescue services in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own arrangements, and this article does not describe them. It is general information, not personal safety advice; anyone at immediate risk should call 999.
What a fire-reduction letterbox is
LFB says letterbox openings in doors provide easy access to the inside of a property and, for some people, can mean an increased risk of deliberate fire attacks. It says special letterboxes are designed to reduce this risk, and that a fire-reduction letterbox can significantly reduce the risk from a deliberate arson attack by helping to contain any ignitable materials put through a letterbox. The page adds that it is still essential to have working smoke detection and to know what to do in the event of a fire, deliberate or accidental. The site’s article on smoke and carbon monoxide alarm law across the UK nations explains the alarm requirements.
Who LFB says needs one
LFB’s page says people who are vulnerable to this kind of attack often include victims of domestic violence, hate crime or intimidation, and invites anyone worried that they or someone they care about may be at risk to contact it. The policy gives a wider list of those deemed at risk or vulnerable: victims of domestic violence, hate crime (for example racist, transphobic or homophobic attacks), intimidation, revenge and gang violence or feuds. According to the policy, the need is usually identified after an arson attack attended by the brigade, from a home fire safety visit or through a referral from an external agency. LFB says its crews may recommend a special letterbox during a home fire safety visit or at an incident, that it also receives referrals from partner agencies, and that people can contact it directly.
Cost and speed
The LFB page says that, if the resident is eligible, the brigade will fit a fire-reduction letterbox for free. The policy states that the brigade funds letterboxes where vulnerable people are identified and meet the eligibility criteria, and that a home fire safety visit is carried out if the resident has not had one. It says all identified arson threats are treated as very high risk and receive a home fire safety visit within a specified 4-hour timeframe unless the resident cannot accommodate it, in which case a convenient time is arranged. The site’s article on sanctuary schemes covers a separate route by which councils can fund security measures for survivors of domestic abuse.
Cheaper options come first
The policy says that before a fire-reduction letterbox is considered, other ways to reduce the risk should be explored. These include securing the existing letterbox with a blanking plate, which prevents access except at times chosen by the resident, and sealing the opening entirely. It says that an externally mounted letterbox removes the risk of this type of attack. If neither option is appropriate and the door is suitable, provision of a fire-reduction letterbox should be considered. This ordering matters for anyone fitting their own: a lockable plate or a sealed opening removes the route altogether, while a bag contains what arrives.
How the approved designs work
The policy describes approved letterboxes from two suppliers. One consists of a fireproof bag and back plate, fixing screws and silicone sealant; the other comes with a fitting template, instructions, screws and silicone. In the first, posting mail from outside is unaffected once the bag is fitted, and mail is retrieved by opening a lid held by clips and Velcro straps. The policy says the bag must be checked at least once a month against the manufacturer’s instructions for damage and loose fixings, and replaced if glass fibre strands are broken, for example by a dog, or if the bag has been in a fire and remains blackened after cleaning.
Door suitability
The policy’s FAQ says the approved products suit wood and PVC doors, with one design also suiting MDF. It lists hollow doors and MDF doors as unsuitable for one design, and says the other cannot be used with vertical letterboxes or letterboxes at the bottom of the door, or on hollow doors unless there is a middle internal support bar that the fitting team has checked. Because door construction decides what can be fitted, the choice belongs to the fitter.
Common questions
Does a fire-reduction letterbox replace a smoke alarm?
No. LFB says working smoke detection is still essential.
Is the service available across the UK?
The service described here is LFB’s, for Greater London. Other services set their own arrangements.
Can I still receive post?
Yes. The policy says posting from outside is unaffected by the fireproof bag design, and mail is retrieved from the bag on the inside.
The bottom line
LFB provides free fire-reduction letterboxes in London to eligible people at risk of deliberate fire attacks, after considering blanking plates and external letterboxes. The device contains what is posted through the door but does not replace smoke alarms or personal safety planning.