Local Government Ombudsmen have published an in-depth Special Report criticising disproportionate over-reaction to the safety of memorials by burial authorities. Thousands of headstones have been flattened and numerous complaints have been made to the Ombudsmen as a consequence.

An advisory group set up by the Government more than three years ago did not agree a national procedure for making memorials safe and councils have been left to choose from various, sometimes conflicting, bodies of advice. This report, say the Ombudsmen, sets out some general guidance on memorial safety testing so that burial authorities may better avoid causing widespread offence. "We believe it is possible to do so without compromising local authorities\' important duties to protect the health and safety of the public," they say.