00:00Good afternoon and thank you for attending today. I am Deputy Chief Constable Dave Marshall
00:16of Homicide Police and today I would like to provide you with an update onto the investigation
00:21in respect to Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. On Wednesday 6th March 2024, Homicide
00:30Police received information which outlined concerns in respect to the treatment of the
00:34deceased within the care of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors across three premises within
00:41Hull and East Riding. Following this report, a complex, protracted and highly sensitive
00:47ten month investigation commenced. A substantial file of evidence was submitted to the Crown
00:53Prosecution Service on Thursday 16th January this year to enable a comprehensive review
01:00and determination to be completed. I can now confirm that Robert Bush, a 47-year-old male
01:07and formerly of Kirkella in East Yorkshire, has this morning been charged with a combined
01:13total of 64 offences in connection to our investigation. These charges incorporate a
01:20total of 254 individual victims. These charges are as follows. 30 counts of preventing a
01:29lawful and decent burial of a body. 30 counts of fraud and false representation in relation
01:37to the deceased recovered from the premises at the funeral homes. Both these charges relate
01:43to offences between 20th April 2023 and 6th March 2024. He has also been charged with
01:52two counts of theft relating to charities committed between 1st September 2022 and 6th
02:00March 2024. Also, one count of fraudulent trading in respect to funeral plans sold between
02:0823rd May 2012 and 6th March 2024. This charge encompasses 172 victims. And finally, one
02:22count of fraud in relation to human ashes committed between 1st August 2017 and 6th
02:29March 2024. This charge incorporates 50 victims. He has been bailed with conditions to appear
02:38at Hull Magistrates Court for the offences charged on Wednesday 25th June 2025. A 55-year-old
02:47woman arrested in July 2024 has today been released with no further action to be taken.
02:53Specialist family liaison officers have this morning updated the families of the 35 deceased
02:59with today's developments. We have also made initial contact with additional victims who
03:06have been affected by this investigation and we will personally be in touch with them in the
03:10coming days. As the investigation now moves into the court and judicial process, I would please
03:17ask people to refrain from any speculation or commenting on the case which could prejudice or
03:23jeopardise. This is to allow those affected to get the answers that they desperately need and
03:29rightly deserve. I will now pass you to my colleague from the Crown Prosecution Service.
03:33Thank you. Good afternoon, I'm Robin Warren. I'm a Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor in our
03:39Serious Organised Crime Division at CPS. That directorate is made up of specialist
03:44prosecutors who review complex and challenging cases like this one and are able to consider
03:51large volumes of material and files in a timely manner. Today the Crown Prosecution Service has
03:57authorised Humberside Police to charge Robert Bush, 47, of East Yorkshire with 64 offences
04:03including fraud, fraudulent trading, theft and preventing a lawful and decent burial,
04:08following an investigation into legacy independent funeral directors in Hull. Our thoughts and
04:14sympathies remain with the families who've been affected during this difficult time and I
04:17compliment Humberside Police on the excellent investigation so far. The Crown Prosecution
04:22Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active and defendants have the right to a
04:26fair trial, therefore it's extremely important that there's no reporting, commentary or sharing
04:32information online which could prejudice these proceedings. I'm going to pass to my colleague
04:37in Victim Support. Thank you. Good afternoon, I'm Julie Butcher and I'm the Area Manager for
04:43Victim Support. Victim Support is an independent charity which provides support to people affected
04:49by crime and traumatic incidents across England and Wales, including here in Humberside. We'd
04:56like to first thank Humberside Police for allowing us the opportunity today to remind the public that
05:01Victim Support continues to provide an independent, free and confidential support service to anyone
05:08affected by this incident in any way. We recognise that the news today might have an impact and we
05:15would like to reassure you that you're not alone in this. Our offer of help remains in place and
05:20we are keen to encourage anyone affected by the news today or the investigation to please contact
05:26our helpline on 0808 28 111 36. We can talk to you about any worries and concerns that you might
05:37have, we can provide emotional support to help to process the impact of the incident, we can help
05:45you to access any other agencies that can help and we can speak to other agencies on your behalf
05:50to find answers or to find help. It's completely free to contact us and to access our services and
05:59whilst we can offer longer-term support, some people find that one or two calls can answer
06:04some questions or alleviate some of the stress and concern. So that number again is 0808 28 111 36.
06:15Thank you. As criminal proceedings are now ongoing, you will appreciate that we are unable to answer any
06:21questions today. This investigation has been one of the largest undertaken by Humberside Police in
06:27recent years. It has involved hundreds of officers and staff from across Humberside as well as
06:34colleagues from other forces who have supported us. This also includes help and support from
06:39partners including our local authorities, His Majesty's Coroner, CPS, Victim Support to name
06:46but a few. I would therefore like to formally recognise the skill, dedication and dignity
06:52demonstrated by all those involved in this most complex investigation. Finally and most importantly,
06:59my sincerest thanks go to all those affected by this investigation for their patience and
07:06understanding over the last 12 months. The victims in this case and their families have always been
07:13our priority and at the heart of our investigation and that is where they will remain. Therefore I
07:18ask that their privacy is respected as we move forward through the court process. Thank you very
07:24much for your attendance here today. We do appreciate it. Thank you.
Comments