7Whether jury requiredE+W
(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
(c)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).
[F1(5)But COVID-19 is not a notifiable disease for the purposes of subsection (2)(c).]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 7(5) inserted (temp.) (28.6.2022) by virtue of Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (c. 35), ss. 42(1), 51(3) (with s. 42(2)-(10))
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 7(2)(c) modified (temp.) (25.3.2020) by Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), ss. 30(1), 87(1) (with ss. 30(2), 88-90) (which affecting provision is continued by The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Delay in Expiry: Inquests, Courts and Tribunals, and Statutory Sick Pay) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/362), regs. 1(2), 2; but then omitted (28.6.2022) by virtue of Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (c. 35), ss. 42(11), 51(3) (with s. 42(12))
Commencement Information
I1S. 7 in force at 25.7.2013 by S.I. 2013/1869, art. 2(a)