Thousands of human ashes sit uncollected across Scotland

Thousands of collections of human ashes are being stored unclaimed in funeral parlours and crematoriums around Scotland, it has emerged.

Most of the ashes pre-date regulations introduced in 2019, which gave relatives a month to collect the remains of their loved ones after a cremation before allowing staff to dispose of them.

The existence of the uncollected ashes has been revealed through freedom of information laws by Robert Swanson, Scotland’s senior inspector of burial, cremation and funeral directors.

It highlights the lack of formal regulation in the funeral industry, which is under scrutiny after a series of scandals. Legislation has been passed to introduce a code of practice for funeral directors in Scotland, although, this will not come into effect until next year.

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