October 15th 2024.
For 15 long years, David Fuller snuck into mortuaries and recorded himself violating the bodies of over 101 women and girls. It's a disturbing and shocking truth that anyone can simply declare themselves a funeral director and keep dead bodies in their garage, as expressed by Sir Jonathan Michael, the chairman of the inquiry established after Fuller's horrific crimes came to light.
Sir Jonathan emphasized the urgent need for proper regulation and policing in this sector, as it currently operates as an unregulated free-for-all. He pointed out the alarming fact that funeral directors don't require a license, qualifications, or training, leaving the public in disbelief. It's a serious issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
In his words, "anyone can set themselves up as a funeral director, even from the comfort of their own home, and store the deceased in their garage without any repercussions. This is simply unacceptable." Sir Jonathan firmly believes that a regulatory system must be put in place to prevent any form of abuse and ensure the dignity and security of the deceased.
The inquiry was initially launched to investigate how Fuller, a maintenance worker, was able to access the mortuaries of two Kent hospitals for more than a decade and carry out heinous acts on the bodies of 101 women and girls. The first phase revealed grave failures at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which enabled Fuller to commit his crimes.
Now, the second phase is focused on examining the care of the deceased across England, including private mortuaries, ambulances, and the funeral sector. In its interim report, the inquiry details disturbing incidents reported by funeral organizations, such as taking photos of embalming, leaving bodies to decompose, and even allegations of sexual assault on a deceased woman by a funeral director in the 1990s.
Sir Jonathan stated that these findings may indicate a systemic failure to protect the deceased due to the lack of standardized policies. He expressed hope that this report would encourage both the government and the funeral sector to take necessary steps to ensure their practices are ethical and do not compromise the dignity and security of the deceased, including neglect.
One of the inquiry's key recommendations is for the government to establish an independent statutory regulation for funeral directors in England as a matter of urgency. This would include enforcement powers, a licensing scheme, and mandatory standards that funeral directors must be inspected on regularly. The report also suggests that funeral directors should provide customers with essential information regarding the care of their loved ones and measures taken to protect them, promoting transparency in the sector.
Sir Jonathan stressed the importance of this new report, especially in light of recent troubling reports of neglect in the funeral care sector. In March, police launched an investigation into Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, following concerns raised about their storage and management processes for the deceased. He hopes that this report will prompt the necessary action to assure the public that the funeral sector is fit for purpose and will not tolerate any form of abuse or neglect.
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