9Procedure for investigations: England and Wales

1

Before conducting an investigation concerning an object, the Coroner for Treasure must—

a

notify the appropriate national museum;

b

take reasonable steps to notify—

i

any person who the coroner thinks may have found the object; and

ii

any person who, at the time the object was found, occupied land that the coroner thinks may be where it was found.

2

During an investigation the Coroner for Treasure must take reasonable steps to notify any person within subsection (1)(b) who has not already been notified.

3

Before or during an investigation, the Coroner for Treasure must take reasonable steps—

a

to obtain the names and addresses of any other interested persons; and

b

to notify any interested person whose name and address he obtains.

4

The Coroner for Treasure must take reasonable steps to give any interested person an opportunity to examine witnesses at any inquest held as part of an investigation.

5

In this section—

• “the appropriate national museum” means—

  1. a

     the British Museum, if the object in question was found or is believed to have been found in England;

  2. b

     the National Museum of Wales, if it was found or is believed to have been found in Wales;

• “interested person” has the meaning given by section 47(6) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009;

• “investigation” means an investigation under section 26 of that Act.

6

This section extends only to England and Wales.

9AProcedure for inquests: Northern Ireland

1

Before conducting an inquest concerning an object, a coroner must—

a

notify the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland;

b

take reasonable steps to notify—

i

any person who the coroner thinks may have found the object; and

ii

any person who, at the time the object was found, occupied land that the coroner thinks may be where it was found.

2

During the inquest the coroner must take reasonable steps to notify any person within subsection (1)(b) who has not already been notified.

3

Before or during the inquest, the coroner must take reasonable steps—

a

to obtain the names and addresses of any other interested persons; and

b

to notify any interested person whose name and address he obtains.

4

The coroner must take reasonable steps to give any interested person an opportunity to examine witnesses at the inquest.

5

In this section—

• “inquest” means an inquest held by virtue of section 7(1);

• “interested person” means—

  1. a

     the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland;

  2. b

     the finder of the object in question or any person otherwise involved in the find;

  3. c

     the occupier, at the time the object was found, of the land where it was found or is believed to have been found;

  4. d

     a person who had an interest in that land at that time or who has had such an interest since;

  5. e

     any other person with a sufficient interest.

6

This section extends only to Northern Ireland.