Public health funerals - the law
Where no other arrangements have been made, or are being made, we are able to bury or cremate the body of somebody who has died within the city.
This includes those that have died at Southend Hospital but may not have lived within the city.
If a resident of Southend has died outside of the city, that local authority will be responsible for making the arrangements.
Legislation that gives us this power
- Section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984
This law does not require us to make funeral arrangements, only that we dispose of a dead body by burial or cremation. This is to protect public health.
The act allows us to recover all the costs incurred in making these arrangements. If available, this comes from the estate of the deceased. Examples include:
- property
- possessions