The government has announced urgent plans to crack down on rogue operators in the funeral sector and ensure better protection for bereaved families after the sentencing of Robert Bush.
Bush, of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a total of 67 charges, including the prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud, fraudulent trading and theft.
DHSC will now drive forward work alongside other government departments, including the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Law Commission, to crack down on rogue operators in the funeral sector and to protect bereaved families against the heartbreak of having their loved ones mistreated in death.
This will include developing a range of detailed proposals to drive up standards, including regulation of the funeral sector. These will be drawn up in discussion with established operators, faith groups, families and other stakeholders.
As part of this work, the Law Commission will undertake a review of the criminal law in relation to the deceased, consider any gaps in existing legal protections and make recommendations on the creation of new offences, if they are needed.
For bereaved families, there can be few things more painful than knowing a loved one was not treated properly after they died. The deceased cannot speak for themselves, which is why clear safeguards, stronger oversight and consistent standards are needed to protect their dignity and give families the reassurance they deserve.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: Robert Bush’s actions were utterly abhorrent, and my thoughts are with all the bereaved families in Hull who have been so badly let down.
In the wake of this horrific case, we will now bring forward comprehensive proposals to ensure respect and dignity for the deceased in every setting, including proper regulation of the funeral sector. We are determined to drive rogue operators out of this industry, and protect other families from suffering this same heartache.
Every person in every situation deserves dignity in death, and every bereaved family deserves certainty that their loved ones are being treated with care and respect.
Justice Minister, Alex Davies-Jones, said: Losing someone you love causes unimaginable pain, but discovering that the very people trusted to give them a dignified farewell have betrayed that trust is unforgivable.
That’s why today we’re taking decisive action to boost oversight of the funeral sector – on top of our unprecedented £550 million over the next 3 years to support all victims – to make sure such atrocities never happen again.
The government will work closely with bereaved families, funeral providers, faith groups and others to ensure that future policy is proportionate, effective and informed by those with relevant experience.
This will ensure action is designed to give families confidence that funeral providers are meeting clear, consistent standards, no matter where they live or which provider they choose.
It will also reinforce the profound responsibility placed on anyone entrusted with caring for someone after death.
This case is another horrendous example of where the deceased have not been honoured with the care and respect many of us would have expected. The findings from Sir Jonathan Michael’s
independent inquiry into the actions that allowed David Fuller to commit his horrific crimes
showed that we need to consider how we can ensure better standards across all settings that look after our loved ones after they die, including where some level of regulation is already in place.
Many funeral providers offer compassionate and professional care every day. Stronger oversight, including regulation and other measures, would protect families from poor practice, support good providers and restore confidence in a sector people rely on when they are at their most vulnerable.
