Freedom of information response

Public health funerals

Publication date: 
Tuesday 6 August 2024
Request: 

Can you please list how many public health funerals (or so called “pauper” funerals) your council has organised, in the following years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Do you carry out an attended or unattended funeral?

Do you return ashes to family or friends if wished and, if so, under what circumstances?

If you do return ashes do you charge for that and how much?

What evidence do you require to carry out a burial, if that isn’t the default funerary method?

Response: 

Can you please list how many public health funerals (or so called “pauper” funerals) your council has organised, in the following years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 See link to website

https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/what-we-spend/contract-funerals

Do you carry out an attended or unattended funeral? Both

Do you return ashes to family or friends if wished and, if so, under what circumstances? No, we only carry out burials, there isn’t a crematorium in Thurrock

If you do return ashes do you charge for that and how much? N/A

What evidence do you require to carry out a burial, if that isn’t the default funerary method? Referral by Coroner and Genealogy search.

Request reference:
FOI 14016