‘Cab rank’ burials ruled unlawful

A decision by a coroner to introduce a ‘cab rank’ rule for burials has been held by the High Court to be unlawful and discriminatory against Muslim and Jewish families, in R (Adath Yisroel Burial Society) v Senior Coroner for Inner North London [2018] EWHC 969 (Admin). Senior Coroner Mary Hassell had issued a protocol that no death would be prioritised because of the religion of the deceased or family. Lord Justice Singh said: ‘The fundamental flaw in the present policy adopted by the defendant is that it fails to strike any balance at all, let alone a fair balance.’