Police meet families of 163 people in connection to ashes from funeral home

Authorities had feared they would not be able to identify the human ashes discovered at the Hessle Road funeral facility.

Police outside the Hessle Road branch of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull (Dave Higgens/PA) (PA Wire)

Police in Humberside have identified more than 160 families connected to human ashes found at a funeral home in Hull, according to reports.

Officers are meeting with the loved ones of 163 people who may be connected to the remains found at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, according to The Guardian.

A total of 35 bodies were recovered in March from the company’s premises in Hessle Road.

A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.

“As a result (of inquiries), 163 families have now been identified, and officers have been contacting them to provide an update and discuss the options available to them,” Humberside police said in a statement.

The assistant chief constable of the Humberside force Thom Mcloughlin, who is leading the investigation, told the Guardian: “Over the last two weeks, my officers have been making contact with the families identified as part of the investigation

“This has been to provide an update as to the ashes recovered and to also arrange personal meetings with them, to offer further support and discuss in detail the process that has taken place and the options available to them.

“We have waited to provide this update publicly until initial contact could be made, as understandably the families are our priority and the information is personal and private to them.”