The Hereford and Worcester (Coroners) Order 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes provision about coroners in consequence of the provisions of the Hereford and Worcester (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1867). The effect of those provisions is described below.

Articles 3 and 4 of that Order create new districts of Herefordshire and Malvern Hills and a new county of Worcestershire. Article 5 provides for the abolition, on 1st April 1998, of existing local government areas and the councils of those areas, and for the creation, on that date, of a new county of Herefordshire. On that date the functions of the Hereford and Worcester County Council in relation to the new county of Herefordshire are transferred to the council of the district of Herefordshire. As the relevant councils for the purposes of the Coroners Act 1988, the new council of the district of Herefordshire and the new council for the county of Worcestershire are responsible for the appointment of coroners for their respective areas and also have other functions in connection with coroners under that Act.

Article 2 of this Order provides for the person who, on 31st March 1998, holds the office of coroner for the existing Western Coroner’s District of the county of Hereford and Worcester to continue as coroner for the new county of Herefordshire. Article 3 provides for the person who, on 31st March 1998, holds the office of coroner for the existing Central and North Eastern Coroners' Districts of the county of Hereford and Worcester to continue as coroner for the new county of Worcestershire. Article 4 transfers rights and liabilities of Hereford and Worcester County Council as the relevant council for the purposes of the Coroners Act 1988 to the new relevant councils, and article 5 makes transitional arrangements to ensure continuity as respects the coroners for the new counties.