Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury baby ashes probe may lead to inspector role

An inquiry into the way babies' ashes were disposed of at Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury looks set to lead to the creation of a new national inspector post to ensure ashes are always returned to parents.

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Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury

Shropshire Council launched an independent inquiry into the issue last year following pressure from campaign group Action for Ashes, led by Glen Perkins from the town.

He claimed that more than 50 parents were informed there were no ashes to return to them after their children had been cremated at Emstrey.

Mr Perkins, whose four-month-old daughter Olivia died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 2007, has welcomed the move as a step in the right direction.

Simon Hughes, the justice minister, has told officials to prepare for a change in the law once a report is published later this month on lost baby ashes at Emstrey.

David Jenkins, who is leading the inquiry, confirmed that he was assessing whether there needed to be a national inspector of crematoria.

Scotland has just appointed Robert Swanson, a senior policeman, to become its first inspector of crematoria after a similar scandal and investigation north of the border.

"This is an area of inconsistency between Scotland and England, and so this is one of the things I am looking at," said Mr Jenkins.

Acknowledging that he might no longer be a justice minister after next month's general election, Mr Hughes told civil servants there was likely to be a consultation process and then legislation to create the post.

A national inspector would make sure that crematoria act in accordance with existing rules. It could also insist that babies' remains are guaranteed.

"I'm very sympathetic to the need to change to a system where in every case of infant deaths ashes are returned to their families," said Mr Hughes.

"That is the least people can expect.

"I've recommended that me or my successor meet the parents in Shropshire.

"I'm keen to move quickly and end the risk of this happening again."

Mr Hughes added that the word "ashes" might even have to be redefined in law, to ensure that bodily remains are separated from items like metal.

Mr Perkins, 53, from Monkmoor, said: "This is one of the things we have been pushing for all along.

"I am not going to start jumping for joy because it has not actually happened yet. But it is certainly a major step in the right direction as far as we are concerned.

"This is not something that is going to go away. Somebody has got to address it, which is why we are pleased Simon Hughes has put things in place so if he does not get re-elected then his successor will be able to take it on."

In 2013, about 2,800 children under the age of one died in England and Wales. A further 3,000 babies were stillborn.

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