1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Shropshire (Coroners) Order 1998 and shall come into force on 1st April 1998.
(2) In this Order “the 1988 Act” means the Coroners Act 1988(1).
2.—(1) The East Shropshire Coroner’s District of the county of Shropshire shall be abolished.
(2) Without prejudice to any order made under section 4(2) of the 1988 Act after the coming into force of this Order, on 1st April 1998—
(a)there shall be added to the Mid and North-West Shropshire Coroner’s District of the county of Shropshire so much of the districts of North Shropshire and Shrewsbury and Atcham as, immediately before that date, is included in the East Shropshire Coroner’s District;
(b)there shall be added to the South Shropshire Coroner’s District of that county so much of the district of Bridgnorth as, immediately before that date, is included in the East Shropshire Coroner’s District.
3.—(1) The person who, on 31st March 1998, is the coroner for the existing East Shropshire Coroner’s District of the county of Shropshire by virtue of having been appointed for or assigned to that district shall be deemed to have been appointed coroner for the county of The Wrekin (which county comes into existence on 1st April 1998 by virtue of article 6(2) of the Shropshire (District of The Wrekin) (Structural Change) Order 1996(2)) by the council of the district of The Wrekin.
(2) Any person who, on 31st March 1998, is a deputy or assistant deputy coroner for the existing East Shropshire Coroner’s District shall be deemed to have been appointed deputy or, as the case may be, assistant deputy coroner for the county of The Wrekin with the approval of the chairman of the council of the district of The Wrekin.
4.—(1) Any process issued, order made, direction given, inquest begun or other thing done by or to the coroner for the existing East Shropshire Coroner’s District shall be deemed to have been issued, made, given, begun or done by or to the coroner for the county of The Wrekin.
(2) All documents, exhibits, registers and other things in the custody of the coroner for the existing East Shropshire Coroner’s District in connection with inquests or post-mortem examinations shall be transferred to the coroner for the county of The Wrekin.
(3) In this article “coroner” includes any deputy or assistant deputy coroner.
Gareth Williams
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Home Office
19th February 1998