Latest Lancashire Police update on Martin's funeral home raids in Preston and Longridge
Police have issued an update after a funeral directors was raided in Preston and Longridge today.
Two people were arrested after police raided both branches of Martin’s Funeral Directors in Tulketh Brow, Ashton and Stone Bridge Parade, Longridge at around 8am.
Lancashire Police say an investigation is continuing but is focused “solely on potential financial irregularities relating to the business”. They added that ongoing enquiries should not impact on the business continuing to provide funeral services at this time.
The force deployed a number of resources to the scene today, including detectives, CSI and sniffer dogs. Officers in white forensic suits entered the funeral homes and conducted an examination of the properties. One of the force’s spaniel sniffer dogs also searched the premises.
In their latest update this afternoon, the Lancashire force said “they have not found anything untoward in respect of the treatment or storage of peoples’ loved ones”.
Two people, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s, both from Preston, have been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and are currently in custody.
Latest from Lancashire Police
This afternoon, a spokesperson for Lancashire Police added: “You may be aware of some police activity at a funeral parlour in Preston and we wanted to provide you with an update.
“Earlier this month we were contacted in relation to concerns about some of the practices at Martins funeral directors and this morning (Tuesday, April 28) we carried out warrants at three addresses in Preston and Longridge as part of our enquiries.
“Officers have carried out thorough searches of the addresses, accompanied by a public health inspector, and we have not found anything untoward in respect of the treatment or storage of peoples’ loved ones.
“Our investigation is continuing but is focussed solely on potential financial irregularities relating to the business. Our ongoing enquiries will not impact on the business continuing to provide funeral services at this time.
“Two people, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s, both from Preston, were arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and are currently in custody.
“We appreciate that reading about this may cause concern, but we wanted to provide some context and reassure you about the nature of our investigation.
“If you do have any information or concerns, you can call us on 101 quoting log 0212 of April 28.”
The Post has tried to make contact with Martin’s, but the phones at both its Ashton and Longridge funeral homes are going unanswered this morning.