Families and funeral firms in the UK are calling for compulsory inspections after being "sickened" by the "truly horrific" police probe into the handling of bodies in Hull.
Humberside Police said the remains of 35 people had been recovered alongside suspected human ashes from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. Deputy Chief Constable Dave Marshall said more than 1,000 people had called its helpline expressing concern for their loved ones.
A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman have been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.
Now a petition has been launched, the local MP is calling for regulation and respectable funeral directors are speaking out. And families hurt by the scandal say they were shocked to find out there are currently no compulsory inspections or official regulations.
Director Robert Bush pictured with his employee daughter Saskya (legacyfuneraldirectors)Michael Fogg, an Independent Funeral Director from Sheffield, told how he’d been calling for change for 17 years and has now started a petition to get the industry regulated. Michael, aged 59, told The Mirror: “Hearing that those families have been betrayed, sickens me. You can’t begin to understand how they must be feeling.
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“I thought the post office scandal was bad enough but this is a different a level, this is a sickness. I sit with families every day, five days a week, at their lowest point in life who put all their trust in you to look after their loved one. I have had two families from Hull who have used that funeral directors contact me. The stories they told me were harrowing.
Michael Fogg is calling for inspections to become compulsory (foggfuneraldirectors)“A gentleman who rang me has got to identify his father whose funeral should have taken place last summer and his body has been found in a mortuary.” Michael sadly says the scandal did not come as a shock: “It didn’t surprise me, is this an isolated incident or not? I doubt it.
“How many have decided not to do the cremation and take the money? It needs to be regulated by local councils and environmental health.” He revealed in frustration how he phoned his local Environmental Health to ask to be inspected by Trading Standards. “They told me on Monday; ‘ it’s ‘something we don’t do’ but they would look into it and come back to me. I’m still waiting for a phone call.”
Police stormed into the venues last week following concerns of 'care of the deceased' (PA)Mr Fogg says his firm has “nothing to hide” so he’s happy for people to have a look at everything behind the scenes. He says on his website: “People can visit our premises and see where we care for loved ones. They can see our Mortuary, our Embalming Theatre, our garage where our fleet of limousines and hearses are kept, our four Chapels of Rest.”
Talking to The Mirror he also slammed the costs some funeral directors have been charging customers. “It’s unregulated, people can charge and do what they want, it is embarrassing to say you are a funeral director. I used to be so proud.” As an example he told how they pay a local horse and carriage firm £950. “And that’s what our customers pay. But I know two companies who charge £1800 for that same horse and carriage.”
Billie Jo Suffil believes she may have kissed an empty coffin after the directors handles her father Andy's passingTalking about inspections, he claimed: “When you voluntarily sign up for a funeral association they are supposed to inspect. But they have now stopped that since Covid." A 55-year-old man from Hull, who asked not be named, whose partner was supposed to have been looked after by the scandal-hit firm in Hull, told how he’d supported the petition.
He said he'd been contacted by his MP about the call for regulation and his giving her his support. He told how he'd used the firm for his partner’s funeral last October. “Funeral homes are meant to be the last place that our loved ones are looked after,” he told The Mirror.
“I think I can speak on behalf of most people that have ever used Legacy, we are all worried we don't have the correct ashes and for a few whether their loved one was ever cremated so a lot of us are having sleepless nights while waiting for the police to complete their investigation .
Robert runs the company which has come under fire for its handling over the deceased
Saskya is employed at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors“I praise the police for their quick actions and also Emma Hardy MP who is getting in touch with us and offering advice and any updates she can find out. I thought there was regulation already so to hear there wasn’t is a bit worrying. This should be in place asap.
“Not that I believe for one minute that all funeral firms are the same but yes they should be checked on.” Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy who has been left “extremely shocked” by the investigation is calling for “all funeral directors to be brought under a regulatory system”.
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“Following the deeply upsetting revelations surrounding Legacy Funeral Directors, it emerged that funeral directors are unregulated and there is no system of statutory licensing or inspections in place. Having spoken to Government ministers, I am now calling for the process of bringing all funeral directors under a regulatory system to begin without delay, starting with a consultation.
Police and forensic teams pictured outside the Hessle Road branch (PA)“This would be the first step in ensuring that what has happened at Legacy will never be repeated.” Mortuary and embalming firm owner, Steven Todd, said on Facebook: As a qualified funeral service professional, I was totally appalled…my heart goes out to all the families concerned.
“Surely now is the time for ALL funeral service staff to have the relevant qualifications and for the funeral service to be regulated.” Funeral directors, A & A Walters, said: “Like so many we are shocked and dismayed hearing about the awful news …
“We have strict protocols and procedures in place which remain under constant review and as such are happy to be inspected at any time by SAIF, an organisation of which we have been a long-term member”.
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