Coroners Act 1988

Deputy coroners E+W

6 Appointment of deputy coroners. E+W

(1) Every coroner—

(a) shall appoint as his deputy a person approved by the chairman of the relevant council; and

(b) may appoint as his assistant deputy a person so approved.

(2) A coroner may at any time revoke an appointment made under subsection (1) above; but a revocation of an appointment made under paragraph (a) of that subsection shall not take effect until the appointment of a successor to the deputy has been approved by the chairman of the relevant council.

(3) The following, namely—

(a) every appointment made under subsection (1) above; and

(b) every revocation of an appointment made under paragraph (b) of that subsection,

shall be in writing under the hand of the coroner; and a copy of every such appointment or revocation shall be sent to the relevant council and be kept with the council’s records.

(4) Subsection (1) of section 2 above shall apply in relation to the office of deputy or assistant deputy coroner as it applies in relation to the office of coroner; and subsections (2) to (4) of that section shall apply in relation to, or to persons holding, the office of deputy coroner as they apply in relation to, or to persons holding, the office of coroner.

(5) In this section “chairman”, in relation to the Common Council, means the Lord Mayor.

7 Functions of deputy coroners. E+W

(1) A deputy coroner may act for his coroner in the following cases but no others, namely—

(a) during the illness of the coroner;

(b) during the coroner’s absence for any lawful or reasonable cause; or

(c) at an inquest for the holding of which the coroner is disqualified.

(2) Where a coroner vacates office, his deputy—

(a) shall continue in office until a new deputy is appointed;

(b) shall act as coroner while the office remains vacant; and

(c) shall be entitled to receive in respect of the period of the vacancy the same remuneration as the vacating coroner.

(3) An assistant deputy coroner—

(a) may act as coroner where the deputy coroner would be entitled to act as coroner but is unable so to act owing to illness or absence for any reasonable cause; and

(b) where the coroner vacates office, may act for the deputy coroner in like manner while the office of coroner is vacant.

(4) In relation to an inquest or act which he is authorised to hold or to do, a deputy or assistant deputy to a coroner shall—

(a) have the same jurisdiction and powers;

(b) be subject to the same obligations, liabilities and disqualifications; and

(c) generally be subject to the provisions of this Act and the law relating to coroners in the same manner,

as if he were the coroner.