"We heard this huge bang and suddenly the police were everywhere!" Moment police raided Preston funeral homes
“It was scary. We were making coffee in the morning when we heard what sounded like gunshots. We looked outside and there were police everywhere...”
A neighbour has spoken of the explosive moment police raided Martin’s Funeral Directors with a battering ram and led a woman outside and into custody.
Lancashire Police deployed a number of resources to the scene in Tulketh Brow yesterday, when the force descended on the funeral home at around 8am.
There were detectives, CSI and sniffer dogs - and these were later joined by a public health inspector - as the Lancashire force carried out a thorough search of the premises.
A neighbour said her family were alerted to the raid by a ‘huge bang’ that sounded ‘like gunshots’.
“We were making our coffee in the morning when we heard what sounded like gunshots,” she told the Post.
“It was a huge band and it startled us. We ran to the window and looked outside, and were really worried and scared. There was police everywhere..
“They had all sorts - there was a battering ram and they’d smashed in the door at the back. Then a bit later we saw they had opened the door at the front, and the one at the side, and a lady was brought out and put into the back of an unmarked police car.
“And then all of the hazmats and the dogs and everything turned up, it was very scary. We were really worried.
“We had no idea what was going on at the time. But we quickly realised it was something to do with the funeral directors.
“It went on all day, with the police coming and going, in and out. It really was scary and we were very concerned for the people who have family members in there, because you just don’t know what’s happening.
“I must say it seemed like a lot of police presence for a bit of fraud.”
Two arrested
A man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s, both from Preston, were arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and taken into custody to be interviewed.
Lancashire Police said the arrests were related to an investigation into “potential financial irregularities” at Martin’s Funeral Directors. The pair have been bailed until July, while the force continues its investigation.
The force said ongoing enquiries should not impact on the business continuing to provide funeral services at this time, and their searches have not found anything untoward in respect of the treatment or storage of peoples’ loved ones.
No further arrests have been made and the Lancashire force is now appealing for anyone with information or concerns about the business to come forward.
Public appeal for information
A police spokesperson said: “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.
“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.”
Alternatively independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Lancashire Police have also set up a public web portal for people to share any information or footage that might support the investigation. You can visit the police portal here.