Chief Coroner's Annual Report

Thursday 16th July 2015 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women and Equalities and Family Justice (Caroline Dinenage)]

I am pleased to lay and publish the Chief Coroner’s second annual report to the Lord Chancellor, under section 36 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”).

The report covers the Chief Coroner’s work in 2014 and the first half of 2015 and is his second annual summary of the operation of coroner services following the 2009 Act’s reforms which went live on 25 July 2013.

In particular the Chief Coroner’s report sets out:

His work to promote consistency in the resourcing of and practices in coroner offices across England and Wales;



The training and guidance he has facilitated for coroners and their officers, supported by stakeholder events for local authorities and bereavement support organisations;



His plans for the coming year to improve services further.



His Honour Judge Thornton QC has continued to develop the excellent work set out in his first annual report as Chief Coroner, which was published a year ago.

I am very grateful to Judge Thornton for building on his first year’s achievements so effectively. I am grateful too, to coroners and their officers and other staff, for having supported the Chief Coroner to improve services for bereaved people.

I look forward to working with the Chief Coroner in the coming year.

Copies of the report will be available in the Vote Office and in the Printed Paper Office. The document will also be available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chief-coroners-annual-report-2014-to-2015

[HCWS137]