Police unable to identify any human ashes found in Hull funeral parlour

Police have announced they have not been able to identify any of the cremated ashes at the centre of an investigation into a funeral directors.

Legacy Independent Funeral Directors has been under police investigation since officers recovered 35 bodies, as well as suspected human ashes, at one of its funeral parlours located on Hessle Road in Hull last month.

Humberside Police explained has been working closely with forensic scientists and specialists to assess whether it was possible to extract DNA from the human ashes in order to identify them.

Bu the force said it had been able to identify the dead because the high temperature of a cremation had badly degraded the dead’s DNA.

Humberside Police assistant chief constable Thom McLoughlin said the force’s announcement would be “devastating news for families and loved ones”, adding they have his “heartfelt condolences at this difficult time”.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday (4 April), Mr McLoughlin said: “While the expert opinion provides us with an assurance that the proper crematorium process had been followed, unfortunately given the high temperature required to carry out a cremation the DNA will have broken down and degraded to such a level that we would not be able to recover a meaningful DNA profile.

“This means that we are unable to identify any of the human ashes.”

He explained specially-trained family liaison officers continue to support and update the families of the 35 deceased, and the force has also been in touch with a number of families regarding the ashes recovered from the premises.

Mr McLoughlin said more than 2,000 calls had been made to a dedicated phone line for the investigation and significant number of them related to suspected financial and fraudulent activity.

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Since Humberside Police announced their investigation into the firm, families of the dead who were taken to the parlour, have questioned whether they have the ashes of their loved ones.

Some families claim they have been told they definitely have the wrong remains.

Mr McLoughlin said officers have been in contact with more than 700 families to update them on the investigation and offer support.

He said: “We must remember that at the core of this investigation are heartbroken, devastated families and loved ones.

“I recognise that this has been a difficult and distressing time for those involved, and there is no doubt that the impact has been felt across our communities.”

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s director of housing, transportation and public protection Angela Dearing said public protection teams, along with partners from Hull City Council, have visited every funeral director operating in the local authorities’ areas.

Ms Dearing said: “Over three weeks we have visited 50 premises to review compliance with health and safety regulations, operational procedures and care of the deceased, and to offer support and advice to businesses.

“While the sector is not formally regulated nationally, the visits were an opportunity for us to look at a number of key areas of funeral directors’ business.

“It is very clear from our visits that the ongoing incident at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors is in no way typical of the funeral industry in our area.”

Police previously arrested a 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.

The pair remain on bail pending further inquiries.

Hull City Council’s director of public health and deputy chief executive Julia Weldon urged anyone affected and needing help to call the helpline on 0808 2811136.