The recent case involving a funeral director in Hull has understandably caused shock, anger and distress.
For families who place their loved one into the care of a funeral director, trust is absolute.
You are handing over someone precious at one of the most vulnerable times in your life. You should never have to wonder whether they are being treated with dignity, respect and care.
Cases like this damage confidence in an entire profession, including the many funeral directors who work incredibly hard to uphold high standards every day.
At Varty’s, we believe families deserve stronger protection and consistent standards across the whole funeral profession.
Government announces action on funeral regulation
Since we began writing this article, the Government has announced that it will develop proposals for formal regulation of the funeral sector.
The Department of Health and Social Care will lead the work alongside the Ministry of Justice, the Law Commission and other government departments.
The Government has said it will speak with funeral providers, bereaved families, faith groups and other stakeholders as it develops the proposals.
We welcome this important step.
However, proposals have not yet become law. The final regulatory framework and timetable have also not been confirmed.
We therefore believe it remains important for funeral directors, families and members of the public to continue adding their voices to calls for meaningful statutory protection.
Families deserve proper protection
Most people would reasonably assume that funeral directors are already subject to comprehensive regulation, licensing and inspection.
The reality in England and Wales is more complicated.
There are legal requirements covering areas such as pricing, cremation and consumer information. However, there is currently no single statutory regulatory framework covering every funeral director.
Professional organisations including the National Association of Funeral Directors and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors already set standards and inspect their members.
Those schemes provide valuable safeguards, but membership is voluntary. This means those protections do not currently apply consistently across the whole profession.
Families should not have to research whether a funeral director belongs to a particular professional organisation before knowing that clear standards apply.
They should be able to trust that every funeral director is expected to care properly for the deceased, maintain suitable and secure premises, keep accurate records, train staff appropriately, communicate honestly and be accountable when standards are not met.
Scotland shows what stronger oversight can look like
Scotland has already introduced a statutory Funeral Director Code of Practice which applies to all funeral directors carrying out funeral-directing work there.
The Code sets minimum standards for areas including the care of the deceased, premises, record keeping, communication with families and managing risks.
A statutory inspection regime also allows inspectors to examine facilities, records, training documents and compliance with legal requirements.
England and Wales now have an opportunity to create meaningful protection which provides the same reassurance to every family, regardless of where they live or which funeral director they choose.
Good funeral directors should welcome scrutiny
Regulation should not be something responsible funeral directors fear.
It should protect families, strengthen public confidence and help distinguish reputable businesses from operators who should never have been allowed to care for the deceased.
The Government has recognised that many funeral providers deliver compassionate and professional care every day. It has also said stronger oversight should protect families, support good providers and help restore confidence in the profession.
After 90 years of serving Wigan families, we understand the responsibility that comes with this work.
Funeral directors are entrusted with someone’s loved one, their family memories and moments which can never be repeated.
That responsibility deserves proper oversight.
Raising standards across the profession
We welcome the Government’s commitment to develop proposals for formal regulation.
We also welcome its promise to work with funeral providers and people with relevant experience as part of that process.
Any future framework must place the dignity of the deceased and the protection of bereaved families at its heart.
It should also be effective, proportionate and developed with an understanding of responsible independent and family-run funeral businesses.
Families deserve transparency about who is caring for their loved one, where they are being cared for and the standards being followed.
Reputable funeral directors already understand the importance of those things. Stronger statutory regulation would help ensure those expectations apply consistently across the whole sector.
The actions exposed in Hull are horrifying, and our thoughts remain with every family affected.
No family should ever experience that kind of betrayal of trust.
If anything positive can come from this terrible case, we hope it creates the urgency needed to protect bereaved families and raise standards throughout the profession.
Add your voice
A Parliamentary petition is calling for full statutory regulation of the funeral industry by spring 2027.
Its requests include:
- a statutory regulatory regime;
- independent governance;
- mandatory standards and licensing;
- regular unscheduled inspections; and
- stronger oversight and accountability.
At the time of publication, more than 2,300 people had signed the petition.
It needs 10,000 signatures to receive an official Government response. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
The petition remains open until 14 November 2026.
The Government’s recent announcement is encouraging, but public support still matters. The petition calls for clear measures and a firm timetable for turning proposals into meaningful protection.
We are backing it, and we urge other funeral directors, families and members of the public to do the same.
If you believe bereaved families deserve greater protection, please add your name.
You can view and sign the Parliamentary petition by clicking > HERE <
You can also read the Government announcement setting out its plans to develop proposals for formal regulation.
[READ THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT]
Thank you.
The Varty family
