Two bodies removed from funeral directors during police raid

Two bodies were removed from a funeral parlour as police raided the premises.

Police visited R&H Barker in Didcot and Wantage, Oxfordshire, on Sunday after receiving a tip-off about concerns regarding its business practices.

The focus of the investigation is possible fraud offence, and an allegation of preventing lawful and decent burial.

R&H Barker was ordered to close during the investigation.

Another funeral director firm removed two bodies so their families could bury them.

Their families have been contacted by police and are being supported by officers, Thames Valley Police confirmed.

Police carried out warrants at the two properties after carrying out initial inquiries off the back of a complaint made on April 10.

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No arrests have been made in relation to the allegations.

Police are yet to find evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the BBC reported.

A spokesperson for the force said: ‘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.’

Keen to quell concerns people may have for their dead loved ones, police stressed the allegation of preventing a lawful and decent burial related to one case only.

The spokesperson said: ‘We do not believe that any other families are impacted.’

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