HM Inspector of Crematoria for Scotland: annual report 2015-2016

Complaint Investigations

From 15 March to 16 October the Inspector received 10 complaints. The following is a resume of complaints / incidents of note reported to the Inspector. Where these complaints contain identifiable personal information, they have not been set out in detail.

In every case details have been summarised and anonymised as not all investigations have reached a conclusion.

1. This complaint concerned plans to appropriate 'open space' within the grounds of a crematorium for the purpose of establishing a link road. It was made by a community council on behalf of local residents who objected to the disturbance and permanent removal of land on which ashes had been scattered or interred, the removal of memorials and metal residual materials, and raised a number of issues questioning the legality of such actions under the Humans Rights Act 1998.

2. This complaint concerned the mislabelling of ashes following the cremation of two adults.

3. This investigation concerned two sets of adult ashes having the same identification details affixed.

4. This complaint concerned issues surrounding the storage and handling of the ashes of one adult.

5. This complaint concerned the recovery of a greatly reduced and combined quantity of ashes following the cremation of two adults.

6. This investigation concerned ashes (adult) which were inadvertently interred within the garden of remembrance.

7. This complaint concerned the legality of a crematorium being allowed to operate in respect of its close proximity to a public highway and dwelling house.

8. This complaint concerned an ongoing dispute regarding a planning application for a new crematorium.

9. This investigation concerned information provided in an anonymous letter, (uncollected ashes of babies and adults) and has been referred to in the Report of the National Cremation Investigation (Page 295) ^[3] .

10. This investigation concerns a number of uncollected ashes (babies) held by a funeral director and has also been referred to in the Report of the National Cremation Investigation (Page 179).

A detailed report was previously submitted to the Scottish Government in respect of No.s 1,2,3,4, 5 and 6 above.