Changes to burials at sea requirements for The Needles site
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has announced changes to the licensing conditions for human burials at sea for the sea burial site at The Needles off the Isle of Wight.
From October 2023, those who wish a sea burial will have DNA extracted from the body prior to them being laid to rest in this designated site. This follows a number of cases over many years where body parts have been washed ashore on the Island. In future, if body parts are found, they will be matched and identified, saving H.M. Senior Coroner and the Police from having to obtain DNA from families of recent sea burials to identify the body and potentially mounting a suspicious death inquiry.
This was initiated by the Isle of Wight Senior Coroner Caroline Sumeray, led by the UK Missing Persons Unit, and working with various other partners, including Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, the Home Office Forensic Pathology Unit, the Home Office Missing Persons DNA Database, the Human Tissue Authority and the Ministry of Justice.
This initiative has been supported by Bob Seely, MP for the Isle of Wight.
Further information on the process and more detailed guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-get-a-licence-for-a-burial-at-sea-in-england