Police launch investigation after leaked report confirms Chester funeral home staff stripped naked at party

Feb 25 2010 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

POLICE have launched an investigation after shocking details of alleged indecent behaviour at a Chester funeral parlour were leaked.

Transcripts of disciplinary hearings concerning staff at George Pettit & Son, of Delamere Street, confirm employees were pictured performing strip routines, cavorting and drinking alcohol.

Parent company Co-op Funeralcare has now confirmed that a number of staff have been sacked while others have received written warnings.

The files, which were delivered to a Chester resident by mistake, confirm that there were bodies inside the premises at the time of the staff Christmas party, which took place in 2008.

It is also claimed that an indecent act was carried out in close proximity to a body but it is not clear whether this incident occurred at the same party.

The hearings were held prior to several staff members of the family business initially being suspended.

The leaked documents have since been passed to Cheshire Constabulary and the incident is now being investigated.

Police spokeswoman Shelley Williams said: “At 5.20pm on Tuesday, February 16, officers attended an address in Chester in relation to concern raised by a member of the public for the (written) contents of an item of misdirected mail.

“The matter is now subject to further investigation by Cheshire police.”

It is not yet known whether staff members pictured in the photographs have been subject to further disciplinary action.

George Pettit & Son, a member company of the National Association of Funeral Directors, has so far declined to comment.