Guide to Coroner Services

Monday 24th February 2014 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Simon Hughes)]

The Government are today publishing the new “Guide to Coroner Services” and accompanying “Coroner investigations - a short guide”.

The guide explains to bereaved people, and others who come into contact with coroner services across England and Wales, what they can expect from a coroner’s investigation. It sets out the standards of service that they should receive and what they can do if they are not satisfied.

The guide is the final element in the Government’s package of coroner reforms under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 which we implemented in July last year. It is the product of our spring 2013 consultation which sought views on implementing those reforms. The guide replaces and updates the guide to coroners and inquests and charter for coroner services’ which applied to the coroner system under the previous coroner legislation, the Coroners Act 1988 and the Coroners Rules 1984.

The accompanying “Coroner investigations - a short guide” is a quick reference leaflet version of the guide which we have produced following suggestions made in the consultation.

Unlike the previous publication which it replaces, the new guide is statutory guidance. It is issued under section 42 of the 2009 Act, which allows the Lord Chancellor to issue guidance on how the coroner system is expected to operate in relation to bereaved people, including the way in which they can participate in coroner investigations.

I believe that the guide—together with the short guide—will help to make standards of service more transparent for coroners and bereaved people. It will also assist the Chief Coroner in discharging his responsibility under the 2009 Act for overseeing the coroner service.

We are distributing hard copies of the guide and short guide to all coroners’ offices across England and Wales, as well as publishing it on gov.uk. There is also a Welsh translation.

Copies of the guide and short guide are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses, in the Vote Office and in the Printed Paper Office.