Coroners Act 1988

1988 c. 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.

C1C2C3I1F5Be 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:—

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I1

Act wholly in force at 10.7.1988 see s. 37(2)

Amendments (Textual)
F5

Act repealed (12.2.2013 for the repeal of s. 5(2), 25.7.2013 except for the repeal of ss. 4A(8), 13(1)(2)) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(g)(i), Sch. 23 Pt. 1 (with s. 180, Sch. 22 Pt. 1); S.I. 2013/250, art. 2; S.I. 2013/1869, art. 2(p) (with art. 3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1

Act amended (24.9.1997) by 1996 c. 24, s. 7(3); S.I. 1997/1977, art. 2

C2

Act restricted (temp. from 19.7.1996 to 31.3.1998) by S.I. 1996/1867, art. 4(2)(d)

C3

By Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c.53, SIF 39:1), s. 101(1), Sch. 12 para. 23; S.I. 1991/2208, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 it is provided (14.10.1991) that in relation to any time before the commencement of s.70 of that 1991 Act (which came into force on 1.10.1992 by S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch. 2) references in any enactment amended by that 1991 Act, to youth courts shall be construed as references to juvenile courts.

Coroners

F191 Appointment of coroners.

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

F202 Qualifications for appointment as coroner.

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

F213 Terms on which coroners hold office.

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

F224 Coroners’ districts.

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

C44A F1F6 Coroner areas: Wales.

F231)-(7

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

8

F7A senior coroner appointed for any F8coroner area in Wales—

a

shall for all purposes be regarded as a F9senior 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 F10a senior coroner for the whole of Wales.

F239)-(10

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

F245 Jurisdiction of coroners.

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

Deputy coroners

F256 Appointment of deputy coroners.

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

F267 Functions of deputy coroners.

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

Inquests: general

F278 Duty to hold inquest.

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

F289 Qualifications of jurors.

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

F2910 Attendance of jurors and witnesses.

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

F3011 Proceedings at inquest.

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

F3112 Failure of jury to agree.

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

Inquests: special cases

13 Order to hold F11investigation.

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 F13or an investigation which ought to be held; or

b

where an inquest F14or 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 F15an investigation (or as the case may by, another investigation) should be held.

2

The High Court may—

a

order an F16investigation 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 F17a 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 F18any inquisition on, or determination or finding made at that inquest.

F323

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

F124

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.

F3314 Inquest out of jurisdiction.

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

F3415 Inquest where body destroyed or irrecoverable.

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

F3516 Adjournment of inquest in F2event of criminal proceedings.

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

F3617 Provisions supplementary to section 16.

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

F3817AF3 Adjournment of inquest in event of judicial inquiry.

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

F3718 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.

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

F4827AF4 Indemnity.

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

F4928 Annual returns to be made to Secretary of State.

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

Miscellaneous

F5029 Coroner of the Queen’s household.

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

F5130 Treasure trove.

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

F5231 Provision of accommodation.

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

Supplemental

F5332 Power to make rules.

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

F5433 Savings for ex-officio coroners and judicial powers.

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

F5534 Application of Act to Isles of Scilly.

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

F5635 Interpretation.

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

F5736 Consequential amendments, repeals, transitional provisions and savings.

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

F5837 Short title, commencement and extent.

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

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 SALARIES AND PENSIONS

Section 3(1).

F59...

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)
F59

Act repealed (12.2.2013 for the repeal of s. 5(2), 25.7.2013 except for the repeal of ss. 4A(8), 13(1)(2)) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(g)(i), Sch. 23 Pt. 1 (with s. 180, Sch. 22 Pt. 1); S.I. 2013/250, art. 2; S.I. 2013/1869, art. 2(p) (with art. 3)

F59. . .

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

SCHEDULE 2 CORONER OF THE QUEEN’S HOUSEHOLD

Section 29(7).

F60...

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

F60F60...

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

F60F60...

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

F60F60...

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

F60F60...

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

SCHEDULE 3 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

Section 36(1).

F61...

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)
F61

Act repealed (12.2.2013 for the repeal of s. 5(2), 25.7.2013 except for the repeal of ss. 4A(8), 13(1)(2)) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(g)(i), Sch. 23 Pt. 1 (with s. 180, Sch. 22 Pt. 1); S.I. 2013/250, art. 2; S.I. 2013/1869, art. 2(p) (with art. 3)

F61...

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

SCHEDULE 4 REPEALS

Section 36(2).

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)
F62

Act repealed (12.2.2013 for the repeal of s. 5(2), 25.7.2013 except for the repeal of ss. 4A(8), 13(1)(2)) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(g)(i), Sch. 23 Pt. 1 (with s. 180, Sch. 22 Pt. 1); S.I. 2013/250, art. 2; S.I. 2013/1869, art. 2(p) (with art. 3)

F62...

...

...