Tees Valley & Durham Area
Cruse Bereavement Care
Support and Resource Centre

The Work Of The Coroner

1. Who are coroners?

Coroners are usually lawyers but in some cases they may be doctors. They are independent judicial officers - this means that no-one else can tell them or direct them as to what they should do but they must follow the laws and regulations which apply. The cost of the coroner is met by local taxation.

2. What does the coroner do?

It is the coroners' duty to enquire about the deaths that are reported to them and to find out if the cause of death was due to violence or unnatural causes.

3. Are all deaths reported to the coroner?

No. In most cases the deceased's own doctor, or a hospital doctor, is able to give a cause of death. The occasion when it is likely to be reported to the coroner is when no doctor has been treating the patient or when death was unexpected or unnatural.

4. How is death reported?

Deaths are usually reported by the doctor or by the police if the death is sudden. In other cases, it may be reported by the registrar. When the death has been reported to the coroner, the registrar must wait until the coroner has finished their enquiries before the death can be registered. These enquiries sometimes take time so it is always best to contact the coroners' office before planning any funeral arrangements.

5. What will the coroner do?

The coroner may decide that the death was quite natural and there is a doctor who will sign a form confirming this.

Alternately, the coroner may ask a pathologist to examine the body. This must be done as quickly as possible and the family must be informed also. If the examination proves natural causes, then no inquest is necessary and the registrar can register the death for burial.

6. What if the death is not due to natural causes?

The coroner will hold an inquest.

7. What is the purpose of an inquest?

An inquest is an enquiry to find out who has died, and how, when and where they died, together with information needed by the registrar in order to register the death correctly.

8. Will an inquest decide who is to blame?

No. An inquest is not a trial. It is a limited inquiry into the facts surrounding the death. It is not the job of a coroner to blame anyone for the death; this is the job of a trial.

9. What happens if somebody was charged with causing the death?

When somebody has been charged with manslaughter or murder, the inquest is adjourned until the trial is over. Before this adjournment, the coroner will affirm who the deceased was and how they died. The coroner will then send a note to the registrar of deaths to allow the death to be registered. When the trial is over, the coroner will not normally resume the inquest.

10. Is there a jury at an inquest?

No. Most inquests are held without a jury. There are only certain circumstances when a jury might be called:

• If the death occurred in prison or in police custody
• If the death resulted from an incident at work

In every inquest held with a jury, it is the jury, not the coroner, who makes the final decision (verdict).

11. Will the inquest be reported in the papers?

All inquests must be held in public and someone from the press is usually in court. Whether or not they report it is up to them. At the same time, the coroner does understand that every death holds a personal tragedy and tries to treat each one sympathetically. The inquest tries to get to the truth. This may mean reading out suicide letters etc. but as this may mean some upset to people's private lives; it is avoided unless it is imperative to inform the jury fully.

12. Can a funeral be held before the inquest is finished?

Yes. If an inquest is to be held, the Coroner will normally allow burial or cremation of the body once any examinations have been finished. A delay can arise however if someone has been charged with the death.

13. Can a death certificate be issued before the inquest is finished?

Not normally. However, when the inquest has been adjourned after someone has been charged with causing the death, a certificate can be issued. A Coroner may provide an interim certificate of fact of death in order to assist the relatives with the management of estate.

14. Can a copy of the inquest be obtained?

When the inquest has been completed, a person who has a proper interest in the inquiry may apply to see the notes. These people are:

• A parent, spouse, child and anyone acting for the deceased.
• Anyone who gains from a life policy on the deceased.
• Any insurer having issued a policy for the deceased.
• Anyone whose actions the coroner believes may have contributed to the death, accidentally or otherwise.
• The Chief Officer of the Police.
• A person appointed by a government department to attend the inquest.
• Anyone else that the Coroner sees has a proper interest.

There may be a fee payable but this is subject to status as legal aid may be available under some circumstances. In some cases, these reports may be in the form of tape recordings or transcripts of the hearing.

15. Where can I get more information about the Coroner's proceedings?

From your local Coroner's office. This is usually listed under the Home Office in the telephone directory. Alternately, your local Police or Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to tell you where the office is situated.