Two people charged as part of investigation into funeral parlour in Gosport

Officers investigating the business practices at a funeral directors in Gosport have charged two people.

This follows a report to police at 10.45am on Sunday 10 December 2023.

Richard Elkin, aged 48, of Nobes Avenue in Gosport, has been charged with:

• Intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance between 27 June 2022 and 11 December 2023.
• Preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body between 3 November 2023 and 11 December 2023.
• Carrying on a business with intent to defraud creditors/for other fraudulent purpose between 10 August 2022 and 11 December 2023.
• Making a false instrument with intent for it to be accepted as genuine.
• Using a false instrument with intent for it to be accepted as genuine.
• Possession of an offensive weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid or gas, namely pepper spray.

Hayley Bell, aged 41, of Nobes Avenue in Gosport has been charged with:

• Intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance between 27 June 2022 and 11 December 2023.
• Preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body between 3 November 2023 and 11 December 2023.
• Carrying on a business with intent to defraud creditors/for other fraudulent purpose between 10 August 2022 and 11 December 2023.

They have both been bailed with conditions to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 19 December.

This has been a complex investigation in which police have engaged with the affected families throughout, before submitting a file to the Crown Prosecution Service in June this year.

We have now secured charges for two people in this investigation, and we urge the public not to speculate on the circumstances in order to allow the criminal justice process to run its course without any impediment.

If you have any concerns or information relating to this type of crime, you can contact police on 101, or submit information to us via the reporting tool at www.hampshire.police.uk