Funeral directors have sought to reassure bereaved families after police launched an investigation into the alleged “deeply distressing” handling of bodies by a firm 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 the force was investigating a “truly horrific incident” and that 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.
The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) said on Wednesday it was “deeply distressed” by the allegations. It said Legacy “is not and has never been” a member of the industry group, which has a strict code of practice covering care of the deceased and the return of ashes.
Members of SAIF were inspected “on a regular basis”, a spokesperson said, and customers also had access to an industry complaints scheme.
A separate Hull funeral directors, A & A Walters, also sought to reassure the public on Wednesday as the police investigation gathered pace. It 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”.
A man whose mother died at the end of 2022 told the Guardian he was shocked to hear about the investigation into Legacy as he had received a professional service. “You wouldn’t think it. He was such a lovely guy,” the man said. “He couldn’t do enough for you. There were no signs of anything being wrong.”
When his father died three months later, the funeral home gave the family a discount, he said. “He was so helpful, so lovely, so caring, so compassionate,” he said.
The funeral directors had collected both his parents and he had felt their bodies were well looked after. “He told us we could come and visit them, they were made up lovely,” he said.
Marshall told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday: “We are continuing to support the families involved through this extremely difficult and distressing time. This has been a truly horrific incident and understandably they are distraught and have many questions to be answered.
“I want to reassure them and the wider public that we are doing everything we can to give them that reassurance and the answers to the questions that they desperately want.”
