Hull police inquiry 'casts shadow' on sector, say funeral professionals

A police investigation into a funeral business in Hull has "cast a dark shadow over the profession" a funeral director has said.

Kevin Moxon said he was "utterly shocked and saddened" after 35 bodies were removed from Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.

Detectives said they have now identified all the bodies after "concern for care of the deceased".

Two people arrested on a number of offences were released on bail.

Mr Moxon, who runs Moxon's Family Funeral Directors in Hull's Anlaby Road described the allegations as "totally abhorrent" and said they were "not reflective of the funeral profession".

"I have never known, in 25 years, anything approaching some of the allegations that have come out.

"This would not be the norm.

"I think it's cast a dark shadow over the whole of the funeral profession.

"So I want the public to understand that most funeral directors, be it a family business or a larger concern or a corporate business, will go the nth degree to look after a family."

He said he was "totally dumbstruck" by the allegations and said there was a "massive amount of trust and responsibility placed on our shoulders" to look after the deceased and their families.

"We're given a sacred duty to look after somebody's loved ones, to do the funeral and then afterwards to make sure they get the cremated remains back or we lay them to rest in a grave.

"My heart goes out to the families concerned."

Mr Moxon joined campaigners calling for funeral regulation and licensing to be "brought in fairly quickly".

Legacy Independent Funeral Directors was a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) until its resignation in 2021, NAFD had said.

But the company was "not and has never been a member of SAIF", another trade association representing independent funeral directors, the BBC was told.

Terry Tennens, the CEO of SAIF, said that funeral directors around the country are extremely concerned about Hull, for the affected families and what this means for trust in the profession.

"Lots of firms are posting messages of reassurance on their social media channels to highlight how they comply with their trade association codes of practice and welcome being inspected," he said.

"They're really having to go all out to remind people that the overwhelming majority of funeral directors are incredibly dedicated and caring professionals. Judging by the public reaction in terms of likes and comments, it's clear that people... appreciate these posts.

"There is also a fear that... Hull will result in knee-jerk regulation that could be disproportionate and cause harm to small companies," he said. "The hope is that funeral directors will be listened to and consulted if and when any new regulations are designed."

The Ministry of Justice has said that it was reviewing funeral sector regulation.

The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), which has been calling for regulation, said many funeral directors "work to a code of conduct through industry bodies, which can include inspections for members' though it was "not compulsory".

Few details about the investigation have been disclosed but officers said they were also examining a quantity of ashes recovered from the firm's Hessle Road site.

Humberside Police said it had received more than 1,500 calls from people who had used the company and were concerned about their loved ones' remains.

Officers cordoned off three sites after the force received a report on 6 March of concerns "in relation to the storage and management and processes of the deceased people within those premises".

Cordons have since been lifted at Legacy's premises in Hessle Road and Anlaby Road in Hull, and Beckside in Beverley, but "a scene guard" remained in place at the Hessle Road branch.

A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position. They have since been released on bail while police inquiries continue.

The force said its dedicated helpline numbers remain open.

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