Statement: Legacy Independent Funeral Directors

SAIF is deeply distressed about reports of arrests at a funeral directors in Hull following a police investigation. We understand that many members of the public will be concerned about these developments too. 

Our advice to bereaved families who are currently in the process of instructing a funeral director is to check that the business is a SAIF member. This can be done here.

Members of SAIF will have a certificate of membership displayed in a prominent place within their branch premises, as well as a window sticker visible to passersby.

Importantly, our member firms are required to adhere to a strict code of practice covering care of the deceased, return of ashes to bereaved families and invoicing. 

SAIF funeral businesses are inspected against the code of practice by our representatives on a regular basis to ensure standards are upheld.

Additionally, clients of SAIF members have access to a complaints scheme, providing reassurance should things go wrong.

Legacy Independent Funeral Directors is not and has never been a member of SAIF.

Further information about SAIF’s code of practice can be found here.

Medical Examiner system implementation hit by possible delay

SAIF is unsurprised to learn that the implementation of the already-delayed statutory Medical Examiner system for England and Wales will not happen during the first half of April.

According to an update from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ)’s Burial, Cremation and Funeral Sector Policy Team, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), which is leading the implementation of the incoming Death Certification Reform provisions, will make further announcements in due course.

The DHSC is working closely with the MoJ to confirm the precise commencement date and SAIF will be sure to share this with members as soon as information becomes available.

The scheme was originally intended to launch in April 2023 but was delayed by 12 months.

SAIF CEO Terry Tennens said: “It’s unfortunate to learn that the system is potentially being delayed yet again and we’re disappointed on behalf of our members who have been preparing for the implementation of the new scheme. But more importantly, it could mean some of the logjams that bereaved families experience in laying loved ones to rest will continue for the foreseeable future.”

SAIF members who have questions about the Medical Examiner system should contact the business centre at info@saif.org.uk.

Prospective new Associate member in Wales

SAIF has received an application from a prospective Associate Member based in Caerphilly, Wales
Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Prospective new member in Merseyside

SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Liverpool, Merseyside
Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Official code of practice for funeral directors approved by Scottish parliament

The first major step in the regulation of the funeral profession in Scotland has been taken with the approval of a statutory code of practice. 

The Scottish Government’s Funeral Director Code of Practice was rubber stamped by the Holyrood parliament on 31st January and businesses have a one-year grace period from 1st March in which to align with the code’s requirements. Full compliance is required by 1st March 2025.

Importantly, the code applies to all funeral directors carrying out funerals in Scotland, regardless of where their business is based.

A level playing field for the profession in Scotland

SAIF Scotland’s President James Morris has welcomed the development, which follows several years’ consultation with the sector, describing it as positive news for the profession. 

“For years, many of us have been calling for a level playing field in which all funeral directors across Scotland are required to operate to a set of high standards. This new code of practice, whose creation has been informed by our expert government liaison team, does exactly that,” he said.

“It’s also important to note that SAIF has been conscious to align its UK-wide code of practice with the Scottish code, to ensure ease of compliance with the new regulations for small businesses,” James added.

Six key areas to deliver good outcomes for bereaved families

The Scottish Government’s Funeral Director Code of Practice covers six areas of a funeral directing business. These are: Engagement of the funeral director and transfer of the deceased; Care of the deceased and premises used by the funeral director; Planning the funeral service according to the wishes of the deceased and the bereaved; Delivery of the funeral; Complaints; and Business continuity and managing risks.

The aim of the code, which has its legal basis in The Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016, is to ensure that “every person in Scotland will have a dignified and respectful funeral and bereaved families can be reassured that good standards of care will be provided”.

In the introduction section it describes how adherence to the code will “assist in providing transparency in the goods and services offered to the bereaved”.

The code also seeks to achieve three outcomes, namely minimum standards of care of the deceased, the establishment and promotion of a common understanding of good practice in relation to care of the deceased, and increased transparency of choice of goods and services to help people in Scotland to make informed decisions.

A template for funeral regulation across the UK

Terry Tennens, Chief Executive of SAIF, thanked the Scottish Government’s burials and cremation team for considering the funeral profession’s advice and concerns in drafting the code. 

“We are pleased to see Scotland’s statutory code reach approval and implementation. SAIF believes this is a proportionate document that will safeguard the interests of bereaved families without creating challenges for the many small businesses that work tirelessly to provide a high standard of care and support.

“It is actually a very positive template for regulation elsewhere in the country and is testament to what can be achieved when all interested parties take a consultative approach to business governance,” he said.

SAIF encourages funeral directors across the UK to familiarise themselves with Scotland’s new code, as it is an important milestone in the history of the funeral profession and could be replicated across other jurisdictions of the country in time. The code can be viewed here. A letter introducing the code to funeral directors from Jenni Minto MSP can be viewed here.

Prospective new Associate member in East Sussex

SAIF has received an application from a prospective Associate Member based in Crowborough, East Sussex.
Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Prospective new member in Shropshire

SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Newport, Shropshire
Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Prospective new Associate Member in Staffordshire

SAIF has received an application from a prospective Associate Member based in Lichfield, Staffordshire
Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

A marked improvement: corporate price gouging tamed by CMA Order

SAIF is pleased to see that the large corporates and chains, whose above-inflation price rises sparked an official probe into the funeral sector, are finally attempting to get their fees under control.

This is, of course, thanks to the imposition of strict regulation and not due to boardrooms suddenly discovering a moral compass.

Today’s (09.02.24) annual review of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)’s Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021 is essentially a report card for the very businesses that brought shame on the profession in the run-up to the pandemic.

However, it should be noted that not all funeral charges are coming down. The CMA report has also revealed that the price of unattended funerals by larger firms is increasing above the rate of inflation.

In truth, what is happening in the direct cremation market is a long-overdue adjustment following a race-to-the-bottom price war between online and corporate providers. This was a completely unsustainable situation and costs were always going to rebound.

But this does mean that consumers opting for a direct cremation solely on price grounds will now need to tread with caution. Bereaved people with limited finances should be aware that a simple attended funeral might be within their budget. From now on, no fuss could also mean no bargain.

Additionally, SAIF notes that the overwhelming majority of funeral businesses are complying with the CMA Order. We will continue our work with officials to help small businesses understand these complex rules. It’s our belief that most instances of non-compliance are down to misunderstandings rather than a refusal to obey the law.  

To sum up, we hope that the improved behaviour by the large corporate companies will stave off calls for a second investigation into the sector, which could result in disproportionate regulations. This would damage those small independent firms which have always kept their prices under control to ensure best value for bereaved people.

Prospective new member in East Sussex

SAIF has received an application from a prospective Funeral Director based in Crowborough, East Sussex
Please log onto the members area and visit the ‘membership pending’ page to see further details.

Find a SAIF Member