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The ICCM Journal | Summer 2020 | V88 No. 2
keep updated…. Deceased Management Advisory Group (DMAG) With the coronavirus pandemic dominating our lives, any updates have focused on this, with changes taking place, what feels like, daily. The bereavement sector is represented by several organisations, covering both funeral directors and those who manage, provide and work in cemeteries and crematoria. The major organisations have combined to work together to develop a consensus approach to the many challenging issues which now face the sector and have formed The Deceased Management Advisory Group (DMAG). These include representatives from the following organisations • • • • • • •
The Association of Private Crematoria and Cemeteries (APCC) Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (FBCA) Funeral Furnishing Manufacturers’ Association (FFMA) Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) National Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) The Cremation Society
DMAG have set up a dedicated website www.dmag2020.org detailing guidance and updates on legislation. Guidance The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 – Closure of Crematoria and Burial Grounds On 21st April 2020 the Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care, signed the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. This clarifies the position in England relating to the closure of crematoria and burial grounds. The new regulations remove wording relating to burial grounds in paragraph 5(8), and adds a sub-paragraph, (8A), stating that paragraph (8) does not apply to any grounds surrounding a crematorium. Paragraph (8) and (8A) now read: (8) Subject to paragraph (8A), a person who is responsible for a crematorium must ensure that, during the emergency period, the crematorium is closed to members of the public, except for funerals or burials. (8A) Paragraph (8) does not apply to the grounds surrounding a crematorium, including any burial ground or garden of remembrance. This means that burial grounds and gardens of remembrance may remain open. However, the burial or cremation authority or company can make the decision to close them or limit access for health and safety or operational reasons. The Amendment Regulations also address the reasons that people may leave the place they are living during the emergency period: Restrictions on movement 6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse. (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need— (g) to attend a funeral of—
(i) a member of the person’s household, (ii) a close family member, or (iii) if no-one within sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) are attending, a friend;
(ga) to visit a burial ground or garden of remembrance, to pay respects to a member of the person’s household, a family member or friend 19th April 2020 - guidance for managing a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic – Government advice issued On Saturday 18 April 2020 Robert Jenrick, Local Government Secretary, announced at the Government’s daily press briefing that he is ‘asking councils to keep open or indeed to reopen cemeteries and graveyards’, and that the Government will publish further guidance on funerals.
