FOI Ref: FOI/2023/4799
You asked
Please can you provide me with details about the following topics:
The number of exhumations authorised by the Home Office, between 2000 - 2021, for the purpose of forensic investigation.
The number of deceased individuals that the British Embassy and the Ministry of Defence authorised for repatriation, - between 2000 - 2021.
The number of individuals, between 2000 - 2021, who received a post-mortem examination after having been embalmed.
The information can include both sexes, all ages, all nationalities, any ethnicity / recent ancestry, and any cause of death.
We said
Thank you for your request.
Unfortunately, we do not hold the data requested. Our mortality data is derived from information collected at the point of death registration. Repatriations, exhumations, and details on how a body is prepared for burial or cremation, is not information that is recorded as part of this process.
Exhumations
For data relating to exhumations, the Ministry of Justice may be best placed to assist, as the license for exhumation is granted through the coroner's office. Please contact data.access@justice.gov.uk
Repatriations through British Embassy and Ministry of Defence
With regards to repatriations by the Ministry of Defence, all statistics published by the MOD are available on their website MOD National and Official Statistics by topic. For further information please contact cio-foi@mod.uk For FOI requests for the British Embassy please contact The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office at information.rights@fcdo.gov.uk
Post-mortem and embalming
If your enquiry relates to UK post-mortem requests after embalming for repatriation, the Ministry of Justice may be best placed to assist, as the decision for a post-mortem would be taken by the coroner. Please contact data.access@justice.gov.uk Further information on the process of a British National dying abroad is available at What to do after a British national dies abroad