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 in any building would endanger the health of the inmates of that building or of any adjoining or neighbouring building, 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.
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