Dorset father's ashes missing after police raid (From Bournemouth Echo)

Dorset father's ashes missing after police raid

8:00am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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TWO brothers fear Dorset Police have destroyed an urn containing their late father’s ashes after seizing them in a raid on their Bournemouth home.

Luke and Sam Morrison were arrested a couple of months ago following an alleged assault.

Their home in Southbourne, Bournemouth, was searched by police officers, who removed items they suspected had been used to grow cannabis.

No charges have been brought against the pair, but scaffolder Sam, 25, signed a form agreeing that the police could destroy the equipment.

Ground worker Luke, 27, said his brother had been kept in the lounge while the house was searched, so did not see exactly what had been seized.

“There was hydroponic equipment in one of the bedrooms for tomato plants. They accused us of growing cannabis, but they found none whatsoever in the house,” he said.

“My brother signed something to say they could destroy what they say is cannabis cultivating equipment. We thought the urn was with other stuff of ours.

“It’s ridiculous that they should take something out of a box labelled ‘the remains of Hugh Morrison’.

“I presume they thought they were nutrients.”

The brothers have kept the plastic urn at home since their father died of a heart attack at his flat on January 23 four years ago at the age of 59.

“It made us feel closer to him,” said Luke.

“We go out every year on the anniversary of his death and sprinkle some of his ashes somewhere.

“He lived in Israel for about 10 years, so we took some out there. This year we had nothing to take.

“We’ve both got jobs, we own a house together and are law-abiding citizens – then we get treated like this.

“Our father would probably have found it absolutely hilarious but it’s very upsetting for us.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “We have been in contact with Mr Morrison and the force is sympathetic to the situation regarding the whereabouts of his late father’s ashes.

“A detailed log of items seized by police officers from Mr Morrison’s home was compiled and the missing urn was not included.

“We are making further enquiries to establish the whereabouts of the ashes and will ensure that Mr Morrison is kept updated.”