Prevention of the lawful and decent burial of a dead body is an offence under the common law of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Outside of homicide (to be an added count) it is quite rare. It is triable by indictment and can be punished by, at maximum, life imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both. An example of the offence, standalone, is detaining a body, for instance upon a claim for fees or a debt, refusing to deliver it to the executors for burial, or when entrusted with it for burial selling for dissection.