Police investigating Hull funeral home to return ashes to 163 families

Police investigating a Hull funeral directors are visiting 163 families in relation to the return 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.

Since detectives announced their investigation into the firm, hundreds of families across Hull and East Yorkshire have been left questioning whether they have the ashes of their loved ones, with some saying they have been told they definitely have the wrong remains.

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. They remain on bail.

Humberside Police said: “Our officers and support staff from Hull City Council and East Riding Council will be starting to visit 163 families in regards to the repatriation of the ashes recovered from the Hessle Road premise.”

Families offered support

Thom McLoughlin, the Humberside Assistant Chief Constable, told the Guardian: “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.

“We have waited to provide this update publicly until initial contact could be made, as understandably the families are our priority and the information is personal and private to them.”

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.