Search Legislation

Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

 Help about opening options

Opening OptionsExpand opening options

Changes over time for: Section 48

 Help about opening options

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, Section 48. Help about Changes to Legislation

48 Removal of body to mortuary or for immediate burial. E+W

(1)If a justice of the peace (acting, if he deems it necessary, ex parte) is satisfied, on a certificate of the proper officer of the local authority for the district in which a dead body lies, that the retention of the body [F1in any place would endanger the health of any person], he may order—

(a)that the body be removed by, and at the cost of, the local authority to a mortuary, and

(b)that the necessary steps be taken to secure that it is buried within a time limited by the order or, if he considers immediate burial necessary, immediately.

(2)Where an order is made under subsection (1) above, relatives or friends of the deceased person shall be deemed to comply with the order if they cause the body to be cremated within the time limited by the order or, as the case may be, immediately.

(3)An order under this section shall be an authority to any officer named in it to do all acts necessary for giving effect to the order.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 48(1) substituted (6.4.2010 for E., 26.7.2010 for W.) by Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14), s. 170(3)(4), Sch. 11 para. 7; S.I. 2010/708, art. 6(e) (with Sch. 2); S.I. 2010/1547, art. 2(e) (with Sch. 1)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 48 applied by S.I. 1988/1546, reg. 3, Sch. 1

C2S. 48 modified (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(2)(3), Sch.2

S. 48 modified (10.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(2)(3), Sch. 2

C3S. 48: certain functions transferred (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(1)(3), Sch.2

S. 48: certain functions transferred (10.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(1)(3), Sch. 2

C10S. 48 Functions transferred and modified (E.) (14.6.2016) by The River Tees Port Health Authority Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/644), arts. 1(1), 9, Sch. 2

C11S. 48 functions etc. assigned to the port health authority and modified (31.3.2017) by The Weymouth Port Health Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/558), arts. 1(1), 9, Sch. 2 (with art. 9(3))

Back to top

Options/Help