Coroners have been told to give “proper respect” to religious beliefs in new burial policy. It follows the controversial case of north and east London coroner Mary Hassell.

The order comes a few weeks after the High Court quashed the “cab rank” system of Ms Hassell – who is the senior coroner for Camden, Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets – of dealing with deaths.

Muslim and Jewish faiths place special importance on people being buried as soon as possible. But Ms Hassell, before the court case, refused to take this into account and give priority.

The Chief Coroner of England and Wales has now released a “guidance” instructing: “A coroner should be open to representations that a particular case should be treated as a matter of urgency (whether for religious or other reasons), and that proper respect should be given to representations based on religious belief.”