East Yorkshire councils get £2m to support funeral investigation

The government is to provide up to £2m to help councils with costs arising from investigations into a Hull funeral directors, the BBC understands.

Humberside Police began an inquiry at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors on 6 March following reports of "concern for care of the deceased".

Two people have been arrested and released on bail.

Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council said they welcomed the extra funding.

In a joint statement, the two authorities said the money would "assist with additional costs incurred as part of our response".

"This should enable us to provide families with the support they need at a very difficult time," they added.

In a press conference last week, police announced they were also investigating suspected financial and fraudulent activity and that a dedicated specialist investigation team was carrying out enquiries.

The BBC has spoken to people who say they bought pre-paid funeral plans as far back as 2017 and as recently as 23 February, less than two weeks before the police investigation began.

Gill Fewster and her husband Bill say they took out policies seven years ago when she retired after 20 years working as a nurse and received a pension pay out.

"I remember when my mum died and having to make all the funeral arrangements," Mrs Fewster said.

"I thought I don't want that for my kids to have to sort. So that's why we got the policies."

"Two friends went first then I went with another friend. She actually had a policy with another funeral director but cancelled it because Legacy was so much cheaper."

"We've both got health problems, especially Bill so we needed to have it settled and done to make me feel better."

Mrs Fewster said when they heard about the police investigation they checked their policies and were told they did not exist.

"It is a lot of money," she said.

"Our pensions were meant to keep us until we were older."

Another couple, said they had taken out a cremation policy for a relative in 2023 which cost £970.

Alan Slater and his wife Janice then took out similar plans for themselves costing £920 each.

After becoming concerned following news reports about Legacy they contacted the company which they were told held their policies, to be told they did not exist.

Mr Slater said: "Three thousand quid down the toilet. It's a lot of money we can ill afford to lose.

"And now we've got to do it again so it's going to be at least another four thousand pounds."

The BBC has contacted Legacy for a response.

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