Part 1Coroners etc
Chapter 1Investigations into deaths
Inquests
I17Whether jury required
1
An inquest into a death must be held without a jury unless subsection (2) or (3) applies.
2
An inquest into a death must be held with a jury if the senior coroner has reason to suspect—
a
that the deceased died while in custody or otherwise in state detention, and that either—
i
the death was a violent or unnatural one, or
ii
the cause of death is unknown,
b
that the death resulted from an act or omission of—
i
a police officer, or
ii
a member of a service police force,
in the purported execution of the officer's or member's duty as such, or
C1c
that the death was caused by a notifiable accident, poisoning or disease.
3
An inquest into a death may be held with a jury if the senior coroner thinks that there is sufficient reason for doing so.
4
For the purposes of subsection (2)(c) an accident, poisoning or disease is “notifiable” if notice of it is required under any Act to be given—
a
to a government department,
b
to an inspector or other officer of a government department, or
c
to an inspector appointed under section 19 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37).
F15
But COVID-19 is not a notifiable disease for the purposes of subsection (2)(c).