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Shrewsbury baby ashes inquiry calls for national inspector of crematoriums Shrewsbury baby ashes inquiry calls for national inspector of crematoriums
(about 1 hour later)
A national inspector should be created for crematoriums, an inquiry has concluded after bereaved parents failed to receive their babies' ashes.A national inspector should be created for crematoriums, an inquiry has concluded after bereaved parents failed to receive their babies' ashes.
At least 60 families are believed to have been affected by failures at Shrewsbury's Emstrey crematorium between 1996 and 2012.At least 60 families are believed to have been affected by failures at Shrewsbury's Emstrey crematorium between 1996 and 2012.
The Shropshire Council-commissioned report said poor training and out-of-date equipment were mainly to blame.The Shropshire Council-commissioned report said poor training and out-of-date equipment were mainly to blame.
There have been similar problems at other crematoriums.There have been similar problems at other crematoriums.
David Jenkins, who led the independent inquiry, said he had been "struck by the absence of authoritative national guidance".David Jenkins, who led the independent inquiry, said he had been "struck by the absence of authoritative national guidance".
'Historic' failures'Historic' failures
He recommended the government appoint an independent inspector to oversee standards across England.He recommended the government appoint an independent inspector to oversee standards across England.
Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said he "would be shocked if this wasn't happening all over the country".Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said he "would be shocked if this wasn't happening all over the country".
Staff at Emstrey told the inquiry they were not aware babies' ashes could be recovered from the cremators.Staff at Emstrey told the inquiry they were not aware babies' ashes could be recovered from the cremators.
Some said training did not cover the possibility of manually overriding the equipment, which the manufacturer has said would have provided infant ashes.Some said training did not cover the possibility of manually overriding the equipment, which the manufacturer has said would have provided infant ashes.
The inquiry in Shrewsbury followed an investigation by BBC Radio Shropshire, which prompted a campaign by local parents under the Action for Ashes banner.The inquiry in Shrewsbury followed an investigation by BBC Radio Shropshire, which prompted a campaign by local parents under the Action for Ashes banner.
It followed a similar investigation in Scotland after failures at the Mortonhall crematorium in Edinburgh.It followed a similar investigation in Scotland after failures at the Mortonhall crematorium in Edinburgh.
A Freedom of Information inquiry by the BBC last year found the ashes of more than 1,000 babies were not handed to their parents between 2008 and 2013.A Freedom of Information inquiry by the BBC last year found the ashes of more than 1,000 babies were not handed to their parents between 2008 and 2013.
'Felt like body snatching''Felt like body snatching'
Shropshire Council said since new equipment was installed in 2012, babies ashes had been recovered in all cases.Shropshire Council said since new equipment was installed in 2012, babies ashes had been recovered in all cases.
Old equipment meant the small quantity of ashes resulting from a baby's cremation were lost in the system, as staff failed to manually override the cremators.Old equipment meant the small quantity of ashes resulting from a baby's cremation were lost in the system, as staff failed to manually override the cremators.
The new equipment at Emstrey has a specific setting for cremating infants.The new equipment at Emstrey has a specific setting for cremating infants.
Some parents told the inquiry that having even a "teaspoonful" of ashes would have helped them come to terms with the death of their babies.Some parents told the inquiry that having even a "teaspoonful" of ashes would have helped them come to terms with the death of their babies.
One said failing to hand over ashes "felt like body snatching".One said failing to hand over ashes "felt like body snatching".
Glen Perkins, who formed the Action for Ashes campaign group, lost his daughter Olivia to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 2007.
"We don't have a headstone or plaque in the ground for her because we had nothing to put there," he said.
"I don't know where my baby is. Is she mixed in with someone else, has she been scattered at sea, in a river or a beach?"
Analysis: Nick Southall, BBC Radio Shropshire
It started two years ago - we were told about the case of a two-month-old baby. Then we submitted a Freedom of Information request to Shropshire Council, which owns the crematorium, and found out about 30 cases dating back over a decade.
We already know this inquiry has gone back further to the late 1990s and in all they have identified 60 cases where the ashes were not recovered and were not returned, and the question is why?
Shrewsbury isn't alone with this problem - its a postcode lottery in England and Wales. The likelihood of getting remains depends on where you live.
Documents show infants at Emstrey were cremated in the same conditions as adults. If those conditions aren't modified, the small amount of ashes generated in a baby's cremation are at risk of being blown away by air jets used in the process.
I spent time at South West Middlesex crematorium, which guarantees the return of ashes, to find out how it was done.
I have seen human remains from a 23-week-gestation foetus, which proves if you modify the cremation conditions, you recover ashes.
Today's report has concluded staff at Emstrey didn't modify those conditions to stop this from happening.
Families now face a lifetime of not knowing what happened to their children's remains, with the possibility they were lost in the cremator machinery's flue system and later strewn in the garden of remembrance.