Preventing the lawful burial of a body
Criminal offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prevention of the lawful and decent burial of a dead body is an offence under the common law of England, Wales and Northern Ireland,[1][2] as well as Hong Kong.[3] Outside of homicide (to be an added count) it is quite rare.[4] It is triable only by indictment and can be punished by, at maximum, life imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both.
An example of the offence, standalone, is detaining a body, for instance upon a claim for fees or a debt, refusing to deliver it to the executors for burial, or when entrusted with it for burial selling for dissection.
Burning a body instead of burying it was not illegal.[5] It is now an offence to burn a body otherwise than in an approved crematorium.[6]
Disposing of the dead body of a child with intent to conceal the birth (regardless as to when the child died) is a different offence; that under section 60 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.[7]