Pressure mounts as Ministers continue reviewing the funeral sector regulation

The government plans to outline the next steps to improve standards for funeral directors, amidst increasing calls for stricter regulations following the Hull Legacy funeral directors scandal.

Robert Bush, 47, formerly of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, has admitted 67 offences, including preventing a lawful and decent burial, fraud, and theft.

Karen Dry doesn't know whether she has her mother's ashes, she's now urging for mandatory standards and independent inspections to safeguard the dignity of the deceased through a government petition.

Karen said: "What I would like to see is each council bereavement services take control for the registered funeral directors within an area so that each funeral director pays a licence fee. Bereavement services then should be able to go and inspect with no notice, literally turn up, do the inspection of the premises, run through the documentation

"Currently, with funeral trade bodies, inspections only have to take place every two years. The criminality could start tomorrow and carry on for another two years before it's spotted again. So to me, it's just not appropriate.

"At some point, we're going to have to arrange a funeral for one of our loved ones. And the first question in your mind after you lose your loved one should not be, can I trust this funeral director to do the best thing for my loved one that's just passed? That should not be the first question in your mind."

"We need to make sure that this never happens again. We've got to stop them in the tracks and it's got to be put into law that these funeral directors absolutely follow the law of the land."

A government spokesperson stated: “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect after death and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by these sickening crimes. It goes without saying, we are committed to preventing atrocities like these from ever happening again and that’s why we have already accepted the majority of the recommendations from the Fuller Inquiry in full or in principle.

"The government continues to consider the best way to strengthen standards across all settings that care for the deceased, including the funeral sector and will set out next steps soon.”

The Response to Fuller Inquiry

The Department of Health and Social Care is leading the government’s response to the Fuller Inquiry recommendations, particularly focusing on the regulation of the funeral sector.

On 16th December 2025, the government published an interim update on progress in responding to the Phase 2 report recommendations. The update detailed the progress made towards implementing 75 recommendations aimed at enhancing the security and dignity of people after death across different settings.

The government has pledged to release a comprehensive response in Summer 2026, detailing decisions and future actions, with the aim of improving standards concerning the care and treatment of the deceased, including within the funeral sector.

You can find the petition here