Govt pledges £2m to support councils’ response to Legacy Funeral Directors inquiry

INVESTIGATION: Police at the Hessle Road premises of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull

EXCLUSIVE

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

The Government has offered up to £2m in support to Hull and East Riding councils to help people affected by a police investigation into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.

Humberside Police launched an inquiry a month ago after the force received a report of “concern for the storage and management processes relating to care of the deceased in the premises”.

In an investigation update on Friday, police said they would be unable to identify any human ashes recovered in the inquiry, and that more than 700 families had been contacted to “update them on the scientific advice and offer support”.

The force said it was continuing work to identify the remains of 35 deceased recovered from the firm’s Hessle Road premises, and once this process was complete it was confident it would be able to “provide families with complete assurance as to the identity of their loved ones and repatriation with their families”.

A dedicated phone line set up to respond to concerned members of the public has received more than 2,000 calls.

The councils said on Friday they would cover the funeral costs of the 35 deceased.

The Hull Story understands the funding, which has not yet been paid to the councils, is for “specific, exceptional costs directly arising from the immediate local response”.

Any payments would be subject to an approval process consistent with other payments from central Government to local authorities.

The councils said in a joint statement: “Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council welcome this commitment from the Government to work with us and assist with additional costs incurred as part of our response.

“This should enable us to provide families with the support they need at a very difficult time. We would remind everyone of the dedicated support line on 0808 281 1136 which will ensure people are directed to the advice and support they require.”

A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman arrested in connection to the investigation remain on police bail.