Almost 100 people given 'paupers funerals' in Plymouth since 2008
ALMOST 100 people in Plymouth have been buried in so-called 'paupers' graves'.
The depressing statistic paints a harrowing picture of people in the community dying penniless and in isolation.
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Almost 100 people given 'paupers funerals' in Plymouth since 2008
Plymouth City Council have had to step in to arrange and pay for the funerals of 94 people since 2008.
It has a legal duty – under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1985 – to intervene when someone dies and there is no family willing or able to pay for the arrangements.
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The figures on state-funded funerals were released to The Herald through the Freedom of Information Act.
But the reality could be much worse, since people who die in hospital are the responsibility of Plymouth Hospitals Trust.
Oxfam say the figures are a reflection of "inequality not seen since Victorian times."
The council says the statistics "present a worrying picture of isolation and loneliness."
The authority has a contract with a local funeral director to provide funerals for people who die with nothing and nobody.
It costs £950 each time for the transport of the body (hearse), coffin, officiant, and burial or cremation.
Often only funeral directors and council officials are in attendance at the graveside.
They do not provide any floral tributes.
A council spokesman said: "These are indeed sad, but isolated, cases where no arrangements have been made for a funeral and there appears to be no family to help with costs or arrangements.
"We try to recover the costs from the deceased's estate or from a family member.
"If details of family and friends are found they will be informed of the death and invited to make arrangements.
"If it is not possible to contact a family member the cost will be met by the council."
But council chiefs make attempts to claw the cash back.
The spokesman continued: "If the deceased left furniture or other personal effects, arrangements will be made to sell these items and money recovered offset against the cost of the funeral."
Councillor Brian Vincent, cabinet member for the environment, urged people to prepare for the future.
He said: "We know that other councils are noticing an increase in the number of people dying without making arrangements or dying alone without family or friends willing or able to pay for burials and cremations, leaving the taxpayer to pick up the cost.
"Our ageing population is growing and these figures present a worrying picture of isolation and loneliness.
"That said, there's a saying about death and taxes being the only certainties in life, if there is one thing that can be highlighted here, it is that it makes sense for people to take out funeral plans."
A spokesman for poverty charity Oxfam blamed the government for the shocking statistic. Chris Johnes, Oxfam's director of UK poverty, said: "It is very sad to see the poorest in our society hardest hit.
"We need to see income being distributed more fairly if we are to make any impact on reducing levels of poverty; if we carry on down this path the UK will return to levels of inequality not seen since Victorian times."
The number of people buried in a 'pauper's grave' was 27 males and one female in 2008/09 but significantly dropped to five male and three females the following year.
In 2010/11 it rose again to 15 men and two women, and was then 14 males and six females in 2011/12. But it shot up further again in 2012 and the first couple of months of this year, with 17 men and four women needing the council to step in after their deaths.
21 Comments
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by Tim755
Monday, February 25 2013, 10:24PM
“@ technomaniac the film Soylent Green comes to mind”
by sidewinder
Monday, February 25 2013, 10:08PM
“Funeral companies are scum....pure scum, shame on the government for not watching the prices, 6 grand for an average funeral nowadays.........................DISGRACE”
by olddogbreath
Monday, February 25 2013, 7:44PM
“By the time I pop my clogs, there will be no heating allowance or free bus pass. I'll just about get the state pension (which I have slaved for) so I will look forward to my pauper's grave as my one free thing from the state. Not that it is free as I will have paid for it in blood.
However, I would like to thank all those who will attend in advance and hope they make a few bob out of the few measly things I have been able to afford during my tax ridden life.”
by trumanmark
Monday, February 25 2013, 7:02PM
“Councillor Brian Vincent, cabinet member for the environment, urged people to prepare for the future.
Well if you had left the council tax as it was, maybe, just maybe, people would have a bit to put to one side, Mr. Vincent, you were rubbish at city bus, and now the council.
Get real man.”
by allgreenedup1
Monday, February 25 2013, 5:04PM
“I don't think the people who were buried were too bothered where they were planted”
by baldwinpw
Monday, February 25 2013, 4:08PM
“At £950 per person, it is still a fraction of the cost of what our MP's and councillors claim in expenses and other fiddles.”
by CharlieDodd
Monday, February 25 2013, 2:47PM
“When I die I don't want an expensive coffin or ceremony, just put me in a bio degradeable cardboard box like a kentucky fried chicken and i'll be happy”
by technomanic
Monday, February 25 2013, 11:40AM
“The real problem lies with the costs of modern funerals. With funeral directors charging £3,000 - 4,000 for the disposal of a corpse which probably includes all the paperwork and various charges and disbursements, it's no wonder this is becoming a real problem.
No matter how a funeral is dressed up, it's still a body disposal. Life is for living and spending hard fought for dosh. Death is your final escape and happy release from being conned,taxed and used by Government and commerce as a money supply.
We don't mind societies trash and detritus ending up in landfills, but the thought of cheap disposal of bodies in incinerators or mass landfills to cut costs is abhorrent to many and a complete hangover from Victorian times.
Personaly, a large bin bag and the fire will suit me. It's the memories of a loved one and celebration of a life thats over that is important, the embellishments associated with funerals is a luxury many people can no longer afford.
We need a forward thinking council or Government scheme offering cheap body disposal at cost for a basic no frills, no guilt feeling body disposal. In years to come there may even have to be checks for human DNA in beef products as more and more people can no longer dispose of their loved ones.If unscrupulous processing of meat products are prepared to use horse, who knows what may end up on our dinner plates.”
by technomanic
Monday, February 25 2013, 11:39AM
“The real problem lies with the costs of modern funerals. With funeral directors charging £3,000 - 4,000 for the disposal of a corpse which probably includes all the paperwork and various charges and disbursements, it's no wonder this is becoming a real problem.
No matter how a funeral is dressed up, it's still a body disposal. Life is for living and spending hard fought for dosh. Death is your final escape and happy release from being conned,taxed and used by Government and commerce as a money supply.
We don't mind societies trash and detritus ending up in landfills, but the thought of cheap disposal of bodies in incinerators or mass landfills to cut costs is abhorrent to many and a complete hangover from Victorian times.
Personaly, a large bin bag and the fire will suit me. It's the memories of a loved one and celebration of a life thats over that is important, the embellishments associated with funerals is a luxury many people can no longer afford.
We need a forward thinking council or Government scheme offering cheap body disposal at cost for a basic no frills, no guilt feeling body disposal. In years to come there may even have to be checks for human DNA in beef products as more and more people can no longer dispose of their loved ones.If unscrupulous processing of meat products are prepared to use horse, who knows what may end up on our dinner plates.”
by trudie2010
Monday, February 25 2013, 11:15AM
“Isn't cremation cheaper than burial, why don't they do that instead if they want to save money. Dying is the biggest con out there.”