Mum whose stillborn baby was left in paper bag on floor by evil Hull funeral director demands change

Mum whose stillborn baby was left in paper bag on floor by evil Hull funeral director demands change Bereaved mum Jasmine Beverley says she was 'overwhelmed' as some crematoriums have already agreed to help her after her stillborn baby was discovered at Legacy's Hull premises in 2024, almost two years after they’d held his funeral A bereaved mum fighting for changes in the funeral industry after the Legacy scandal says she is 'overwhelmed' after several crematoriums started weighing ashes and using tamper-proof stickers. Jasmine Beverley has contacted 168 crematoriums asking them to introduce the new measures. And now her local Chanterlands crematorium in Hull and Markeaton Crematorium in Derby, have started trialling the new process. The mum hopes others will follow and has been in talks with a huge group, interested in piloting the scheme. The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management also said they are in contact with Hull to see how the new measures work in practice. Jasmine say she is determined to stop others suffering as they have in Hull. Her stillborn baby Sunny-Beverley Conlin was discovered at Legacy's Hull premises in 2024, almost two years after they’d held his funeral. Sunny's remains were recovered in a brown paper bag on the floor of Legacy's premises a year and 10 months after he was born. The family was later told that funeral director Robert Bush had given them false ashes for the cremation in March 2024. At his sentencing victims delivered emotional impact statements and Jasmine addressed Bush through tears, telling him: "I trusted you with the most precious person in my life." Last month Bush, 48, formerly of Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, was jailed for 20 years for a total of 67 charges, including the prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud, fraudulent trading, and theft. As Jasmine campaigns for tougher regulations for funeral directors, she has been pleading for crematoriums across the UK to make some urgent changes. She has now written to more than 168 crematoriums around the country, pointing out: “These safeguards are not about scrutiny or blame. They are about dignity. “A tamper‑evident seal provides visible protection. A recorded weight offers a clear reference point. “Together, they give families confidence that the ashes they receive remain exactly as they were when prepared by the crematorium.” The first to support her call was Hull Crematorium, who she'd asked to implement two "simple but meaningful" safeguards into its best practice. She asked for a tamper‑evident seal applied to all ashes containers and a recorded weight of the ashes at the point they leave the crematorium She says: "Hull’s decision to adopt these measures demonstrates that they are both practical and achievable. “More importantly, it shows a commitment to transparency and reassurance for families who have already endured profound loss." Jasmine says after talking to other bereaved mothers one issue is always raised, families want proof ashes have not been tampered with once they leave the crematorium. “One thing I kept getting back to is people saying the ashes were a bit heavy or there were never enough ashes compared to a previous cremation. “At Hull crematorium they’ve told all the funeral directors what’s happening and said stickers will be coming into force and families made aware. “I contacted 168 crematoriums in England. So far, Hull and Derby have agreed and one in Kent said they are changing their urns where the ashes go and they are on order coming in at the end of the year, and they see no reason why that can’t go ahead. “I’m also in talks with Westerlee Group, who do 72,000 cremations a year and they are interested in piloting a scheme. Jasmine, 40, from Hull, told The Mirror: “When they agreed to make these changes, I cried, it was overwhelming. I’d actually managed to do something. I was hoping they didn’t think this was just a bizarre lady. “It is going to take some time before the funeral regulations are sorted out so I just want to do something now. “I’m just really overwhelmed that people are considering it. It's been so positive and shows there are people who care. “ A Hull City Council spokesperson said: "Since the Legacy situation occurred, we have consistently called for the funeral directors' sector to be properly regulated to ensure minimum standards are imposed and their activities can be properly monitored. "We are already liaising with the Government to share our experiences to help guide any new legislation and, whilst it is ultimately for them to enact the necessary changes in law, the funeral sector is one where trust is vitally important and we are receptive to input from our residents in this respect. "Reflecting this, we have worked with Mrs Beverley to introduce some simple but effective changes, which we hope can also offer reassurance to others." A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: "We know that members of the public are understandably concerned about the integrity of their loved ones' ashes following the investigation into the victims of Legacy Funerals in Hull. "Ensuring that ashes are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve is our highest priority. Markeaton Crematorium is trialling a new process of weighing ashes before placing a discreet tamperproof seal over the closure of the bag. “Our teams will continue to review our procedures to ensure they are in line with best practice.” Mathew Crawley, chief executive of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management said: "We support any safeguards that protect and assist families following a bereavement, whilst ensuring that the dignity of the deceased is respected and maintained at all times. "We remain in contact with Hull Crematorium to understand how the current measures are working in practice and what impact they may have for both families and crematorium staff. "Any proposal involving sealing an urn, or the weighing of cremated remains, for example, needs careful consideration. Even seemingly straightforward measures can have wider implications, including potential variations between scales and the practical challenges of ensuring consistency and accuracy. "There is no single 'quick fix' to the issues facing the bereavement sector. Any changes need to be properly considered, supported by clear policies and procedures, and tested to ensure they work effectively in practice, removing any scope for ambiguity or misinterpretation. "Our organisation has been at the forefront of calls for effective regulation across the bereavement sector for many years...We will continue to engage constructively with crematoria and wider stakeholders to ensure that any measures introduced are practical, proportionate and focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for families."