Anyone could set themselves up as a funeral director and “keep bodies in their garage” an inquiry chair warned today, calling for urgent regulation of the funeral sector.
Sir Jonathan Michael, chair of the David Fuller inquiry, says the public would be “shocked” by the lack of an independent statutory regulatory regime for funeral directors in England.
He has brought forward his recommendations for the sector in light of recent “distressing reports of neglect”.
He said: “It is clear to me that many people believe or assume that the sector is already regulated, and they are shocked to find this is not the case.
“The fact is that anyone can set themselves up as a funeral director. They could do it from their home and keep the bodies of the deceased in their garage without anybody being able to stop them. That cannot be right.”
The inquiry was set up to examine how Fuller, a maintenance supervisor, was able to commit sexual offences in the mortuaries of two hospitals in Kent.
David Fuller was branded “sick and twisted” when he was jailed for life in 2022
In its first phase, published in November 2023, it found “serious failings” at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust which enabled Fuller to commit his crimes.
David Fuller: The ‘vulture’ who appeared normal
This second phase is looking at the broader national picture in the NHS and other settings, such as funeral parlours.
Sir Jonathan said: “My hope is that publishing this interim report now will assist both the government and the funeral sector itself to take steps that assure the public that care in the funeral sector is fit for purpose.
“We need a regulatory regime that will not tolerate any form of abuse or any practices that compromise the security and dignity of the deceased.”
Warning: There are descriptions below which some readers might find distressing
Several cases have caused concern. Earlier this year an investigation was launched into the suspected prevention of lawful and decent burial at a funeral parlour in Hull.
In May 2022 an undertaker from Blackpool, Nigel Robinson-Wright, was jailed for 17 years after he posed for photos next to naked corpses and invited a man to have sex with a corpse in his mortuary.
And in November 2021 Sharon Howell, a funeral service manager from Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, was jailed for leaving the deceased to decompose and defrauding relatives.
In other cases, the inquiry heard evidence of personal belongings not being disposed of in accordance with the wishes of the deceased, litter being left in a coffin and someone spitting on the deceased because they supported a different football team.
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Nevres Kemal, whose daughter Azra was one of Fuller’s victims, told Sky News: “I’m completely shocked. I think the general public believes that funeral parlours are regulated with codes of conduct on how to look after the body.
“Restaurants are regulated, care homes are regulated, basic amenities are regulated, why don’t we regulate the people caring for our dead?
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“Then you have an organisation like the Trust where Fuller was allowed to abuse, rape and violate bodies over 10 years and more.
“Sir Jonathan Michael highlighted all the failings, but who allowed them to happen? Who is to blame?
“No one has been held accountable, neither collectively, nor individually and that is unacceptable.”
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been contacted for comment.