CORONERS’ LAW RESOURCE
With one exception, coroners are appointed and paid by, but legally independent of, local authorities. (The exception is the Coroner of The Queen's Household, who is appointed by the Lord Steward of the Household.) They are removable from office by the Lord Chancellor, who also has power (with the Home Secretary's consent) to make rules for the practice and procedure to be followed by coroners and their courts. But the Lord Chancellor’s Department has no day to day contact with coroners.
The Home Office , through its Coroners' Section, exercises a general liaison function (issuing Circulars and newsletters which contain advice, guidance, news, and also providing some training to coroners). It also prescribes some of the permitted expenses payable by coroners (eg to witnesses and jurors). But it cannot discipline coroners, make practice rules or otherwise interfere with what coroners actually do. Its Research Development Statistics Section maintains statistics of the number of deaths reported to coroners. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has responsibility for the law relating to treasure, but none in relation to how coroners conduct treasure inquests.
There is no appeal in the strict sense from coroners’ decisions, and the verdicts
of their inquests, but their decisions are subject to review
by the High Court on the usual judicial review grounds.
| Accessibility | Contact | Feedback | Search | Terms of use |
Last modified: Monday, 09-Aug-2004 08:53:18 BST by: Malcolm Bishop