Gosport MP to urge Parliament to introduce funeral regulations following Gosport case
It's after Richard Elkin and Hayley Bell were sentenced last month for multiple offences, including prevention of lawful burial
The Gosport MP's holding an urgent Parliamentary debate today to call for the funeral sector to have regulation.
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP is expected to call for a full licensing regime of funeral directors, regular inspections, and minimum qualifications, as well as a clear plan from Government for how to deliver this.
It's after Richard Elkin and Hayley Bell were sentenced last month for multiple offences, including prevention of lawful burial.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, said: “This is the most shocking case I have had to deal with as an MP.
“Regulation is imperative if we are going to restore trust in this industry.
"I was speechless when I first found out that anyone can set up a funeral directors.
"You could do it in your front room if you wanted and it would be perfectly legal.
"That situation has to change.
“Since Elkin and Bell have been sentenced I can speak publicly and loudly about this issue.
"I’m calling for a range of measures to make sure this never happens again and, if it does, that justice is delivered swiftly and proportionately.”
Family members are also calling for regulation of the sector.
We spoke to Jamie Williams, whose mother was one of Elkin and Bell's victims, at the sentencing last month.
He said: "It's an industry that's unregulated and I do call on the British government to bring in robust regulations as soon as possible.
"These funeral directors need to be open, they need to be transparent, and you need to be able to turn up and see your loved ones as and when required.
"My mum wasn't the first and my mum wasn't the last.
"There's people that proceed mum.
"This funeral directors should have been closed in 2021."
A Government spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: “Our thoughts remain with the grieving families affected by this awful situation.
"They rightly expected their loved ones to be treated with dignity and respect.
“We are committed to taking action to ensure the highest standards are always met by funeral directors, and are considering the full range of options to achieve this.”