Following the discovery of malpractice at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, families impacted by the scandal are demanding that the government introduce mandatory, statutory regulation for the funeral industry. The call for reform comes after police investigations into the firm revealed significant concerns regarding the handling of human remains and the management of ashes.

Currently, the funeral industry in the UK operates under a system of voluntary codes of practice rather than strict government-mandated oversight. Campaigners argue that this lack of legal accountability allowed the issues at Legacy to persist undetected. They are now urging policymakers to establish a formal regulatory body with the power to inspect premises, enforce standards, and hold funeral directors legally accountable for their conduct.

While the government has acknowledged the distress caused by the case, there is ongoing debate regarding the scope of new regulations. Some industry advocates suggest that existing consumer protection laws are sufficient if properly enforced, while families and victims' groups maintain that only comprehensive, industry-specific statutory regulation can restore public trust and ensure the dignified treatment of the deceased. The situation remains a point of focus for local authorities and national regulators as they assess how to prevent similar incidents in the future.