Royal arms

Coroners Act 1988

1988 CHAPTER 13

An Act to consolidate the Coroners Acts 1887 to 1980 and certain related enactments, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission.

F1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Coroners

F21 Appointment of coroners.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F32 Qualifications for appointment as coroner.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F43 Terms on which coroners hold office.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F54 Coroners’ districts.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4A F6F7 Coroner areas: Wales.

F81)-(7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8)

F9A senior coroner appointed for any F10coroner area in Wales—

(a)

shall for all purposes be regarded as a F11senior coroner for the whole of Wales; and

(b)

shall have the same jurisdiction, rights, powers and authorities throughout Wales as if he had been appointed as F12a senior coroner for the whole of Wales.

F89)-(10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F135 Jurisdiction of coroners.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deputy coroners

F146 Appointment of deputy coroners.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F157 Functions of deputy coroners.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Inquests: general

F168 Duty to hold inquest.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F179 Qualifications of jurors.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1810 Attendance of jurors and witnesses.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1911 Proceedings at inquest.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2012 Failure of jury to agree.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Inquests: special cases

13 Order to hold F21investigation.

(1)

This section applies where, on an application by or under the authority of the Attorney-General, the High Court is satisfied as respects a coroner (“the coroner concerned”) either—

(a)

that he refuses or neglects to hold an inquest F22or an investigation which ought to be held; or

(b)

where an inquest F23or an investigation has been held by him, that (whether by reason of fraud, rejection of evidence, irregularity of proceedings, insufficiency of inquiry, the discovery of new facts or evidence or otherwise) it is necessary or desirable in the interests of justice that F24an investigation (or as the case may by, another investigation) should be held.

(2)

The High Court may—

(a)

order an F25investigation under Part 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to be held into the death either—

(i)

by the coroner concerned; or

(ii)

by F26a senior coroner, area coroner or assistant coroner in the same coroner area;

(b)

order the coroner concerned to pay such costs of and incidental to the application as to the court may appear just; and

(c)

where an inquest has been held, quash F27any inquisition on, or determination or finding made at that inquest.

F28(3)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F29(4)

For the purposes of this section, “coroner” means a coroner appointed under section 1 of this Act, or a senior coroner, area coroner or assistant coroner appointed under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

F30(5)

This section does not apply in relation to a death that resulted directly from the Troubles (which has the same meaning as in Schedule 1A to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 — see paragraph 4 of that Schedule).

F3114 Inquest out of jurisdiction.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3215 Inquest where body destroyed or irrecoverable.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3416 Adjournment of inquest in F33event of criminal proceedings.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3517 Provisions supplementary to section 16.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F37F3617A Adjournment of inquest in event of judicial inquiry.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3818 Inquests into road deaths in London.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Medical witnesses and post-mortem examinations etc.

F3919 Post-mortem examination without inquest.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4020 Request to specially qualified person to make post-mortem and special examinations.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4121 Summoning of medical witnesses and direction of post-mortem examinations.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4222 Removal of body for post mortem examination.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4323 Exhumation of body for examination.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Expenses and returns of inquests

F4424 Fees and allowances payable on holding inquest.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4525 Payments to jurors.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4626 Payment of expenses by coroner.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4727 Accounts to be laid before relevant council.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F49F4827A Indemnity.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5028 Annual returns to be made to Secretary of State.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Miscellaneous

F5129 Coroner of the Queen’s household.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5230 Treasure trove.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5331 Provision of accommodation.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Supplemental

F5432 Power to make rules.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5533 Savings for ex-officio coroners and judicial powers.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5634 Application of Act to Isles of Scilly.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5735 Interpretation.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5836 Consequential amendments, repeals, transitional provisions and savings.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5937 Short title, commencement and extent.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 SALARIES AND PENSIONS

Section 3(1).

F60...

F60. . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULE 2 CORONER OF THE QUEEN’S HOUSEHOLD

Section 29(7).

F61...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F61F61...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F61F61...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F61F61...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F61F61...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULE 3 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

Section 36(1).

F62...

F62...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULE 4 REPEALS

Section 36(2).

F63...

...

...