Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Part 1 Appointment of senior, area and assistant coroners

Appointment of senior coroners

1 (1) The relevant authority for each coroner area must appoint a coroner (the “senior coroner”) for that area.

(2) In the case of a coroner area that consists of the areas of two or more local authorities, the relevant authority for the area must consult the other authorities before making an appointment under this paragraph.

(3) A person may not be appointed as a senior coroner unless the Lord Chancellor and the Chief Coroner consent to the appointment of that person.

Appointment of area and assistant coroners

2 (1) The Lord Chancellor may by order require the appointment, for any coroner area, of—

(a) an area coroner, or a specified number of area coroners;

(b) a minimum number of assistant coroners.

(2) Before making an order under this paragraph in relation to a particular coroner area, the Lord Chancellor must consult—

(a) the Chief Coroner, and

(b) every local authority whose area falls within the coroner area (or, as the case may be, the local authority whose area is the same as the coroner area).

(3) The relevant authority for a coroner area in relation to which provision is made under sub-paragraph (1)(a) must appoint an area coroner or, as the case may be, the number of area coroners specified for the area in the order.

(4) The relevant authority for a coroner area in relation to which provision is made under sub-paragraph (1)(b) must appoint at least the number of assistant coroners specified for the area in the order.

(5) A person may not be appointed as an area coroner or assistant coroner unless the Lord Chancellor and the Chief Coroner consent to the appointment of that person.