More than 70 contact police in ashes probe

MORE than 70 bereaved families have contacted police regarding an "unprecedented investigation" into the alleged mishandling of cremated remains and funeral plan fraud, a senior detective has revealed.

- By Richard Elias

Raided... police outside A Milne

It has been going on now for almost 18 months and financially is "one of the largest ongoing" probes Police Scotland currently has.

However, the man leading the inquiry believes the numbers of people who may have been impacted by the claims could, in fact, be far higher.

Codenamed Operation Koine, it was established after police received reports relating to practices at the former A Milne Independent Funeral Directors in April, 2024.

This led to an 11-day search at A. Milne's funeral parlour in Springburn, north Glasgow, in May last year.

It was reported that 19 urns were recovered, with eight more handed over to the care of Argyll and Bute Council.