Two bodies removed from funeral directors during police raid as cops investigate ‘prevention of lawful & decent burial’
TWO bodies were removed from a funeral directors amid a police probe into possible fraud offences.
Cops raided two premises of R&H Barker in Didcot and Wantage, Oxfordshire, on Sunday.
Thames Valley Police said it also looking into one allegation of preventing a lawful and decent burial.
Last night the force stressed this claim related to “one individual only” and no evidence has been found.
The company was asked to close during the investigation.
As a result, another funeral director firm removed the bodies so they could be buried as planned by families.
Cops were contacted over concerns relating to the company’s business practices last Wednesday.
Environmental Health was invited to assist the police with its investigation. No arrests have been made.
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: “Two bodies were moved from the premises by other funeral directors to ensure funerals could take place, but this is nothing to do with the police investigation.
“Thames Valley Police were made aware of concerns relating to the business practices of R&H Barker Funeral Directors on Wednesday 10th April.
“We carried out a number of immediate enquiries, and two warrants were carried out at premises connected with the business in Harcourt Road, Wantage and Wantage Road, Didcot on Sunday 14th.
“As a result of these warrants, we are now working together with partners including Environmental Health to investigate business practices at the sites.
“Our focus is on fraud offences and one offence of prevention of a lawful and decent burial.
“At this stage of the investigation we have found no evidence of any criminal offence and no arrests have been made.
“We do not believe that any other families are impacted.”
R&H Barker was contacted for comment.
It comes after heightened scrutiny of funeral directors after two arrests were made at a Humberside firm last month over its burial practices.
Cops contacted the families of 35 bodies as part of an investigation into Legacy Funeral Directors.