PART 7Action to prevent other deaths
Report on action to prevent other deaths
28.—(1) This regulation applies where a coroner is under a duty under paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 5 to make a report to prevent other deaths.
(2) In this regulation, a reference to “a report” means a report to prevent other deaths made by the coroner.
(3) A report may not be made until the coroner has considered all the documents, evidence and information that in the opinion of the coroner are relevant to the investigation.
(4) The coroner—
(a)must send a copy of the report to the Chief Coroner and every interested person who in the coroner’s opinion should receive it;
(b)must send a copy of the report to the appropriate Local Safeguarding Children Board (which has the same meaning as in regulation 24(3)) where the coroner believes the deceased was under the age of 18; and
(c)may send a copy of the report to any other person who the coroner believes may find it useful or of interest.
(5) On receipt of a report the Chief Coroner may—
(a)publish a copy of the report, or a summary of it, in such manner as the Chief Coroner thinks fit; and
(b)send a copy of the report to any person who the Chief Coroner believes may find it useful or of interest.
Response to a report on action to prevent other deaths
29.—(1) This regulation applies where a person is under a duty to give a response to a report to prevent other deaths made in accordance with paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 5.
(2) In this regulation, a reference to “a report” means a report to prevent other deaths made by the coroner.
(3) The response to a report must contain—
(a)details of any action that has been taken or which it is proposed will be taken by the person giving the response or any other person whether in response to the report or otherwise and set out a timetable of the action taken or proposed to be taken; or
(b)an explanation as to why no action is proposed.
(4) The response must be provided to the coroner who made the report within 56 days of the date on which the report is sent.
(5) The coroner who made the report may extend the period referred to in paragraph (4) (even if an application for extension is made after the time for compliance has expired).
(6) On receipt of a response to a report the coroner—
(a)must send a copy of the response to the report to the Chief Coroner;
(b)must send a copy to any interested persons who in the coroner’s opinion should receive it; and
(c)may send a copy of the response to any other person who the coroner believes may find it useful or of interest.
(7) On receipt of a copy under paragraph (6)(a) the Chief Coroner may—
(a)publish a copy of the response, or a summary of it, in such manner as the Chief Coroner thinks fit; and
(b)send a copy of the response to any person who the Chief Coroner believes may find it useful or of interest (other than a person who has been sent a copy of the response under paragraph (6)(b) or (c)).
(8) A person giving a response to a report may make written representations to the coroner about—
(a)the release of the response; or
(b)the publication of the response.
(9) Representations under paragraph (8) must be made to the coroner no later than the time when the response to the report to prevent other deaths is provided to the coroner under paragraph (4).
(10) The coroner must pass any representations made under paragraph (8) to the Chief Coroner who may then consider those representations and decide whether there should be any restrictions on the release or publication of the response.