All 35 bodies in Hull funeral inquiry identified

Detectives believe they have identified all 35 bodies recovered at a funeral directors in Hull, which is at the centre of a police investigation.

Humberside Police said it has had more than 1,500 calls from people concerned about their loved ones’ remains.

Few details about the investigation have been revealed but police said they had “concern for care of the deceased”.

Two people arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial have been bailed.

The 46-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were also arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.

More than 30 people attended a vigil held on Friday afternoon outside the Hessle Road premises, where floral tributes and candles have been left laid out in the number “35”.

Organiser Karen Day, who used the company for the cremation of her parents in 2016 and 2019, said: “My family were cremated and their ashes were spread together, some made into jewellery, some [scattered] in the rose garden at the cemetery and some [put] in a little urn at home.

“I do want people to know if [those ashes belong to] someone else’s family they have been loved and respected as if they were my own.”

The force said it was also working with the National Crime Agency (NCA) on the investigation “including establishing if what has been respectfully recovered, are in fact human ashes”.

Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin said the families were “understandably distraught” while a specialist team worked to identify if the recovered ashes were human.

Officers cordoned off three Legacy Independent Funeral Directors 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”.

However, cordons have since been lifted from all three premises in Hessle Road and Anlaby Road in Hull, and Beckside in Beverley, but “a scene guard” remains in place at the Hessle Road branch, the force said.

In a statement, the assistant chief constable said: “Working in partnership with His Majesty’s Coroner, I can confirm that whilst formal identification procedures are ongoing, we do believe we have contacted all families of the 35 deceased.

“My specialist trained officers continue to support the families involved at this extremely difficult time whilst lengthy enquiries are ongoing.”

Specialist teams had been searching at the Hessle Road premises but this “concluded” on Thursday, he added.

He added over the past seven days they had received more than 1,500 calls from people who had used Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.

“I am aware that this has been a worrying time for our communities, and I want to thank them for their help and patience throughout the start of this investigation,” he added.

“This has truly been an awful incident and the families are understandably distraught and have many questions, and we are doing everything we possibly can to give them the answers they deserve.”

He said the investigation was “extremely complex and sensitive” as officers worked with the coroner and two councils.

“We will continue to release updates on any significant developments as and when we are able, but we do need to be mindful not to jeopardise ongoing investigations and we ask that people refrain from speculating and show the utmost respect for bereaved families within our community.”

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

The force said its dedicated helpline numbers continued to remain open.

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