Update on road closures in Barnsley as part of investigation, 26 October

Detective Superintendent Dave Barraclough said: “The exhumation took place overnight and the post mortem was undertaken in Sheffield today. Further forensics results are required.
The road closure is expected to be lifted later this afternoon after the equipment has been removed from the church.”

Barnsley Road, Silkstone, Barnsley will be closed from midday Thursday, 25 October until the evening of Friday, 26 October 2012. During this time, there will be no vehicle or pedestrian access to Barnsley Road between Silkstone Lane and Vicarage Farm Court.

The road will be closed to allow South Yorkshire Police, at the request of the Coroner, to exhume the body of a woman buried in the graveyard at All Saints & St James Church, Silkstone, Barnsley.

The exhumation is taking place as part of an ongoing investigation by South Yorkshire Police on behalf of the Coroner to establish the cause of death of the woman who died in 2011. The post-mortem conducted following the woman’s death was unable to provide an explanation for the cause of death.

Following the exhumation, a forensic post-mortem will be carried out. This is not part of a criminal investigation at this time.

To enable South Yorkshire Police to carry out this sensitive operation, the All Saints & St James Church and its grounds will be closed from midday on Thursday, 25 October, 2012. The exhumation will take place overnight on Thursday into Friday, 26 October and we expect the church and grounds to reopen on Friday, 26 October.

An area of the graveyard close to Barnsley Road will be cordoned off and a forensic tent will be erected over the grave. The grave subject to exhumation will be screened from any public view.

The decision to exhume the body has been taken with the full support of the family.

South Yorkshire Police apologises for any inconvenience to members of the local community during this time.