by Police who recovered the bodies of 35 people and the suspected ashes of several others from funeral directors said they are investigating a “truly horrific incident”.
Humberside Police promised to put the “heartbroken families” of those affected at the heart of its investigation into Hull-based Heritage Independent Funeral Directors after confirming the arrest of a 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman in connection. the inquiry was released on bail.
Specialist officers were continuing to search through the firm’s premises, in Hull and Beverley, East Yorkshire, on Tuesday as the force confirmed that more than 120 police and civilian staff are working on the case.
Concerned families from Hull and East Yorkshire have taken to social media to express their concerns about what may have happened to the bodies of their loved ones after being entrusted to Legacy for funerals.
Deputy Chief Constable David Marshall said at a press conference in North Ferriby on Tuesday: “We are continuing to support the families involved through this extremely difficult and distressing time.”
Mr Marshall said: “This was a truly horrific incident.”
He said families were “upset” and admitted they had many questions that needed to be answered.
Mr Marshall said it was an “extremely complex and sensitive investigation” and promised to put the “heartbroken families” at the heart of the inquiry.
He said: “Many will be shocked and horrified and will be rehashed with grief after the facts of the case are revealed this week.”
Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin told reporters that more than 1,000 calls had been received from concerned members of the public.
Mr McLoughlin said: “I would like to take this opportunity to speak directly to the families and loved ones who have been affected by this terrible set of circumstances.
“My heart goes out to you all and I can only imagine how distressed and upset it must be for you and your family.
“I know they will want or need much more information than I can give you today.
“But as we move forward with the investigation, I want to reassure you that we will provide you with updates as soon as possible and I also want to give you a personal commitment that I will do everything possible to give you the answers you deserve. “
He added: “We have now recovered 35 deceased who have now been respectfully transported to the mortuary in Hull and formal identification procedures are now underway.
“Also, some of what we think are human ashes have also been recovered.
“We are in the process of carefully recovering all those ashes and taking them to the mortuary.”
Mr McLoughlin said: “I recognize that this is a difficult time for all those affected and I have no doubt that it will have a significant impact on all our local communities and further afield.”
The Assistant Chief Constable said the investigation was at a critical stage and the Humber Foot force was drawing on national support with more than 120 officers and staff working on an enquiry.
He said this reflects the “size and scale of this investigation”.
Officials have abandoned three heritage sites for Independent Funeral Directors after the force received a report on Wednesday about concerns about the “storage and management processes associated with the care of the deceased”.
The bodies were recovered between Friday morning and Saturday evening, the force said.
Formal identification is now taking place at Hull city mortuary.
On Tuesday, there was still a heavy police presence at the business’ Hessle Road site and flowers were left in front of the closed doors of the premises.
The 46-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, who have now been released on bail, were held pending further enquiries, on suspicion of preventing a lawful and reasonable burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of office. released on bail, the force said.
Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Hessle, told BBC Radio 5Live it was “a complete shock to me and a complete shock to the community”.
She said: “Everyone is just looking for him. People are in complete disbelief that something has happened and there are hundreds of questions, which I fully understand everyone has at the moment.”
Miss Hardy said: “There are a lot of different questions about ashes, about people who are still alive and who have plans with the company and, of course, questions from the families who are very involved.”
She said: “It affected everyone.”
On Tuesday, the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), which provides training for those working within bereavement services, called for the regulation of funeral directors.
Chief executive Julie Dunk said: “It is shocking to hear about the police investigation into the funeral directors in Hull.
“We all put such faith in the people we entrust to our loved ones and friends when they die.
“Thankfully, such incidents are rare, and the vast majority of funeral directors take care of deceased people entrusted to them to the standard you would expect.
“However, in an unregulated and competitive sector, standards can slip.
“So we would like to urge the Government to consider now some form of control and inspection of funeral director firms to stop any such infringement and to ensure that bereaved people can get the assurance they expect and get what they deserve.”
