The UK government is developing new legislation intended to regulate the funeral industry and remove "rogue operators," according to a written update to Parliament from Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Yvette Cooper.
This initiative follows the sentencing of Robert Bush, a funeral home director from Hull, who was imprisoned for 20 years last month. Bush admitted to 67 offenses, including failing to bury or cremate individuals, providing bereaved families with the ashes of strangers, theft from charities, and fraudulent trading over nearly 12 years. His actions resulted in the mishandling of 35 bodies and over 100 sets of ashes discovered by police at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in March 2024.
During Bush's sentencing at Hull Crown Court, it was revealed that he defrauded nearly 200 families of £562,117. The judge noted that Bush, 48, was "preoccupied with his own enrichment" and caused suffering on an "unimaginable scale."
Yvette Cooper described Bush's conduct as "utterly abhorrent" and expressed sympathy for the affected families. As part of the government's planned reforms, the Law Commission will review existing criminal law concerning the deceased. This review will identify any deficiencies in current legal protections and assess the need for new offenses.
Detailed plans and a timeline for the introduction of the new laws are expected to be announced in due course. The government's commitment to addressing the issue was underscored by the public outcry and advocacy from groups like those pictured, calling for industry regulation.