Police investigating funeral firm meeting 163 families in connection with ashes

Police investigating a Hull funeral directors are visiting 163 families in relation to the repatriation of ashes, officers have confirmed.

Humberside Police said they began visiting families last week, along with support staff from Hull City Council and East Riding Council, as part of the huge inquiry into the remains found at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.

The firm has been under police investigation since officers recovered 35 bodies, as well as suspected human ashes, at its site in Hessle Road, Hull, earlier this year.

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, and they remain on bail.

Humberside Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin said on Monday: “Over the last two weeks, my officers have been making contact with the families identified as part of the investigation.

“This has been to provide an update as to the ashes recovered and to also arrange personal meetings with them, to offer further support and discuss in detail the process that has taken place and the options available to them.

The officer added: “The meetings began last week and will take time to complete, with both my officers and support staff from Hull City Council and East Riding Council in attendance, to offer care and assistance to families.

“Some families may want to receive the ashes, and others may not, There is no right or wrong answer, and the impact and effect it will have will differ for each individual family, but it should not be underestimated and we will do all we can to support those throughout what is an incredibly difficult time.

“Again, as always, I want to thank the families and everyone in our communities for their understanding as we continue this complex investigation, and we will endeavour to provide answers and updates as and when we are able to.”

In April, Mr McLoughlin said more than 2,000 calls had been received on the investigation’s dedicated phone line and “of those a significant number were understandably concerned about the identification of the ashes of their loved ones”.

He also confirmed that it was impossible to identify any of the human ashes using DNA profiles – a fact he said would be “devastating news for families and loved ones”.

He added that officers have been in contact with more than 700 families to update them regarding the latest scientific advice and offer support.

On Monday, Mr McLoughlin said that, since the April update, “comprehensive inquiries” have been carried out from documentation found with individual ashes and at the premises to potentially identify and locate next of kin.