A man has been charged with 64 offences after an investigation into remains found at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull.
Robert Bush, 47, has been charged with 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial and 30 counts of fraud by false representation relating to bodies found at the firm’s Hessle Road site in March last year.
Robert Bush, 47, has been charged with 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial and 30 counts of fraud by false representation relating to bodies found at the firm’s Hessle Road site in March last year.
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NewsTranscript
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.