MoJ confirms £1,915 Huntley cremation cost

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed it spent 1,915 pounds on the cremation of Ian Huntley, the man convicted of murdering two 10-year-old girls in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002, following his death in hospital after an alleged assault at HMP Frankland prison in February.

Huntley, 52, who was serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years, died several days after the incident involving a metal bar at the high-security facility. No mourners attended the cremation service, which used a biodegradable jute natural coffin costing 265 pounds. The Ministry of Justice breakdown includes 625 pounds for professional services, 275 pounds to transport his body from the hospital, 65 pounds for a cremation casket, and 100 pounds for staff attendance and supervision. Officials described the coffin as the most cost-effective option available, chosen to minimize environmental impact.

The expenditure follows standard Ministry of Justice policy, under which the department covers basic funeral costs for deceased prisoners, up to a maximum of 3,000 pounds. Funds are paid directly to the funeral director and do not include wakes, headstones, or burial plots.