Hull and East Yorkshire funeral homes to be inspected

An investigation of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors began earlier this month

Every funeral home in Hull and East Yorkshire will be inspected to check their procedures, as a result of an ongoing police investigation.

Hull City Council and East Riding Council have written to funeral directors informing them of the visits, which will take place this week.

The step was taken after a Humberside Police investigation into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors began on 6 March.

A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested as part of their inquiries and have since been bailed.

Last Friday senior officers said they had been in contact with families after removing 35 bodies from a building on Hessle Road, Hull.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councils have been working with the National Crime Agency and Humberside Police since the investigation began.

'Reassurance'

Julia Weldon, the Hull authority's public health lead, said the inspections should be a "reassurance" to the city's bereaved families.

“These visits are a chance for local authorities to work with local businesses to put those reassurances in place," she said.

Meanwhile Andy Kingdom, the public health director for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "Our focus at the moment is on supporting the families directly affected by this very upsetting situation.

"It is important that we work together to ensure confidence, trust and high standards.”

The pre-arranged visits to funeral directors by council inspectors will be supported by the National Association of Funeral Directors and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors.

Councils do not have statutory powers or the responsibility to oversee funeral directors, as there are currently no regulations governing them.

Both authorities stated that the visits would give them an opportunity to look at a number of key areas, to reassure customers and businesses.

The Hull West and Hessle MP, Emma Hardy, called for mandatory regulations to be brought in to replace the current voluntary regime.

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