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Cemetery and Crematorium Inspections
Cemetery and Crematorium Inspections
Charter for the Bereaved-Inspection and guiding principles.
Many aspects of cremation, and to a lesser degree, burial, are unseen and little understood by the community. For this reason, doubts arise about the process and these lead to rumours and misinformed often malicious comment. Suggestions of impropriety can further upset the bereaved and leave them feeling uneasy about the service.
To disprove rumours and misinformation, Charter members welcome anyone who wishes to inspect the premises and see, at first hand, exactly what occurs.
The cremation process can be viewed in two ways. The first is whilst services are taking place, when coffins may be seen and the cremators may be in operation. If you consider this upsetting, the second option is to arrange a time when services are not taking place and the cremators are not in operation.
During periods of high death rate, such as January, you may find that very few quiet periods are available.
You can inspect by making an appointment, by telephone or post. If you are at the crematorium, you can approach any member of staff, who will arrange, at the first convenient time, for somebody to accompany you on the inspection and describe the process. You cannot make the inspection alone, due to the confidentiality that must be maintained. This is in regard to the cremated remains that are being retained and the actual cremations taking place at that time. You can see the entire process, or check specific elements of the process. This may be a desire to see how the correct identity of each cremation is maintained, or that all coffins are cremated and not re-used, etc.
If you wish to inspect the crematorium grounds, then specialist grounds maintenance staff may be necessary to give you the information you require. This may need more time to arrange.
Burial is a more open operation, with most of the process taking place outdoors and within the sight of any person present in the cemetery. Nonetheless, aspects of cemetery design, of gravedigging, memorial design and suchlike, are less obvious and may be of interest to you. An appointment to inspect can be made by contacting your Charter member. As cemetery management staffing is often low, now that much of the ground maintenance is done by remote contractors, you may need to wait for an appointment.
Each cremation and burial is required by law to be registered, either by hand or by computer. These records will be maintained forever. If you are the applicant for the cremation, or the person who arranged the burial, you can inspect the entry, or be given a copy, upon request. A small charge may apply. This must be done during office hours and can be arranged through your Charter member.
If you have a specific enquiry or concern that does not require a formal inspection, you can resolve this by personally visiting your Charter member. Alternatively, if the matter is not urgent you can correspond by letter, fax 020 8546 4463 or telephone 020 8546 4462.
Charter Rights
- It is your right to be offered an inspection of burial or cremation facilities, or records, at any reasonable time.
- It is your right to be given a copy of the ‘Guiding Principles of Burial and Cremation Services’.
Charter Target
- To develop greater community awareness of cremation and burial facilities, in order to reduce ignorance about the process.