Cemeteries Rules and Regulations

Opening of Private Graves

12.0 Opening of Private Graves

12.1 No grave in which the exclusive right of burial has been purchased will be opened without the production of the Deed of Grant and the written consent of the owner which must be delivered to the Registrar prior to the interment.

12.2 No body shall be buried, or cremated remains interred or scattered in or over any grave in which an exclusive right of burial exists except by, or with the consent in writing of, the owner of the right of burial (Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 Para. 10 (6).

13.0 Excavations

13.1 All graves will be excavated, re-opened and back-filled by staff appointed by the Council.

14.0 Fees and Charges

14.1 All fees and charges, as shown in the Council’s table of charges, must be paid at the Cemeteries Office at the time of the interment or as requested by the Cemeteries Registrar unless the Director of Finance has approved any other arrangements.

15.0 Certificate of Disposal

15.1 A Certificate for Disposal, Coroner’s Order for Burial, Certificate of Registration of a Still-birth or other acceptable alternative must be handed to the Cemetery Sexton or other person appointed by the Council not later than the time of interment.

15.2 Before the Cemeteries Registrar can authorise the interment or the disposal of the cremated remains of any person in a cemetery, a certificate must be produced from the appropriate Officer of the Crematorium that the Certificate of Disposal or other acceptable alternative has been produced to the Medical Referee of the Crematorium and that the notification of disposal has been delivered to the appropriate Registrar of Deaths.

16.0 Control of Funerals

16.1 All funerals are directly under the control of the Cemeteries Registrar.

16.2 In every case in which a funeral is likely to be attended by a large number of persons, by bands, music, choirs or banners, the fact must be notified to the Cemeteries Registrar at least one clear day before the funeral in order that arrangements can be made accordingly.

16.3 Access to the cemetery by Public Service Vehicles, Heavy Goods Vehicles or other large vehicles to be at the discretion of the Cemeteries Registrar.

17.0 Coffins

17.1 No body will be accepted for interment unless it is enclosed in a coffin of traditional type normally accepted by the cemeteries Registrar. Attached to the coffin must be a nameplate of durable material clearly showing the names of the deceased person (s).

18.0 Offences in Cemeteries

18.1 No person shall:

a) wilfully create any disturbance in a cemetery
b) commit any nuisance in a cemetery
c) wilfully interfere with any burial taking place in a cemetery
d) wilfully interfere with any grave or vault, any tombstone or other memorial, or any flowers or plants on any such matter: or
e) play at any game or sport in a cemetery.

18.2 No person not being an Officer or servant of the Burial Authority or other person so authorised on behalf of the Burial Authority shall enter or remain in a cemetery at any hour when it is closed to the public.

18.3 Any person who contravenes the foregoing shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 and in the case of a continuing offence to a fine not exceeding £10 for each day during which the offence continues after the conviction therefore being offences contrary to Article 18 of Local Authorities Cemeteries Order, 1977.

19.0 Firearms

19.1 No person shall use or carry within a cemetery any firearm (including an airgun), except where the use of the firearm is required in connection with a military funeral.

20.0 Animals

20.1 Animals other than dogs will only be admitted into the cemeteries at the Registrar’s discretion.

20.2 The interment of animals or their cremated remains is not permitted.

21.0 Mounded Graves

21.3 The mounding of graves is prohibited.

22.0 General

22.1 No person shall solicit orders in the cemetery for any kind of trade or business or introduce themselves to any other person for this purpose and no person shall sell or offer for sale any article in or convey any goods through cemeteries.

22.2 All persons within the cemeteries shall conduct themselves in a quiet and orderly manner and shall be subject to the instructions of the cemeteries Registrar and may be removed or excluded from the cemetery in the event of non-compliance with such instructions.

22.3 Children under 14 years of age will not be admitted into the Cemeteries unless they are accompanied by a responsible person.

22.4 Visitors to the cemeteries shall not interfere with the Council employees at their duties.

22.5 The Council forbid any gratuity being received by any of their employees.