OpenLegislation

Coroners Act 1988

1988 c. 13 · Enacted 10 May 1988 · Extends to England and Wales

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 1 May 2024.

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.[10th May 1988]

C1C2C3I1F1Be 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 to the whole text

Textual amendments

F1

Act repealed (12.2.2013 for the repeal of s. 5(2), 25.7.2013 except for the repeal of ss. 4A(8), 13(1)(2)) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(4)(g)(i), Sch.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

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.

Commencement

I1

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

Contents

  1. Coroners
  2. 1Appointment of coroners. Repealed
  3. 2Qualifications for appointment as coroner. Repealed
  4. 3Terms on which coroners hold office. Repealed
  5. 4Coroners’ districts. Repealed
  6. 4ACoroner areas: Wales.
  7. 5Jurisdiction of coroners. Repealed
  8. Deputy coroners
  9. 6Appointment of deputy coroners. Repealed
  10. 7Functions of deputy coroners. Repealed
  11. Inquests: general
  12. 8Duty to hold inquest. Repealed
  13. 9Qualifications of jurors. Repealed
  14. 10Attendance of jurors and witnesses. Repealed
  15. 11Proceedings at inquest. Repealed
  16. 12Failure of jury to agree. Repealed
  17. Inquests: special cases
  18. 13Order to hold investigation.
  19. 14Inquest out of jurisdiction. Repealed
  20. 15Inquest where body destroyed or irrecoverable. Repealed
  21. 16Adjournment of inquest in event of criminal proceedings. Repealed
  22. 17Provisions supplementary to section 16. Repealed
  23. 17AAdjournment of inquest in event of judicial inquiry. Repealed
  24. 18Inquests into road deaths in London. Repealed
  25. Medical witnesses and post-mortem examinations etc.
  26. 19Post-mortem examination without inquest. Repealed
  27. 20Request to specially qualified person to make post-mortem and special examinations. Repealed
  28. 21Summoning of medical witnesses and direction of post-mortem examinations. Repealed
  29. 22Removal of body for post mortem examination. Repealed
  30. 23Exhumation of body for examination. Repealed
  31. Expenses and returns of inquests
  32. 24Fees and allowances payable on holding inquest. Repealed
  33. 25Payments to jurors. Repealed
  34. 26Payment of expenses by coroner. Repealed
  35. 27Accounts to be laid before relevant council. Repealed
  36. 27AIndemnity. Repealed
  37. 28Annual returns to be made to Secretary of State. Repealed
  38. Miscellaneous
  39. 29Coroner of the Queen’s household. Repealed
  40. 30Treasure trove. Repealed
  41. 31Provision of accommodation. Repealed
  42. Supplemental
  43. 32Power to make rules. Repealed
  44. 33Savings for ex-officio coroners and judicial powers. Repealed
  45. 34Application of Act to Isles of Scilly. Repealed
  46. 35Interpretation. Repealed
  47. 36Consequential amendments, repeals, transitional provisions and savings. Repealed
  48. 37Short title, commencement and extent. Repealed
  49. Schedule 1: SALARIES AND PENSIONS
  50. ...
  51. . . .Paragraph . . . Repealed
  52. Schedule 2: CORONER OF THE QUEEN’S HOUSEHOLD
  53. ...Paragraph ... Repealed
  54. ...Paragraph ... Repealed
  55. ...Paragraph ... Repealed
  56. ...Paragraph ... Repealed
  57. ...Paragraph ... Repealed
  58. Schedule 3: CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
  59. ...
  60. ...Paragraph ... Repealed
  61. Schedule 4: REPEALS

1Appointment of coroners.F1

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2Qualifications for appointment as coroner.F1

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3Terms on which coroners hold office.F1

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4Coroners’ districts.F1

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4ACoroner areas: Wales.F6C1

(1)-(7)

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(8)

F2A senior coroner appointed for any F3coroner area in Wales—

(a)

shall for all purposes be regarded as a F4senior 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 F5a senior coroner for the whole of Wales.

(9)-(10)

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5Jurisdiction of coroners.F1

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6Appointment of deputy coroners.F1

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7Functions of deputy coroners.F1

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8Duty to hold inquest.F1

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9Qualifications of jurors.F1

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10Attendance of jurors and witnesses.F1

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11Proceedings at inquest.F1

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12Failure of jury to agree.F1

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13Order to hold investigation.

(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 F1or an investigation which ought to be held; or

(b)

where an inquest F2or 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 F3an investigation (or as the case may by, another investigation) should be held.

(2)

The High Court may—

(a)

order an F4investigation 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 F5a 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 F6any inquisition on, or determination or finding made at that inquest.

(3)

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(4)

F8For 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.

(5)

F9This section does not apply in relation to a death that resulted directly from the Troubles (which has the same meaning as in Schedule 1A to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 — see paragraph 4 of that Schedule).

14Inquest out of jurisdiction.F1

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15Inquest where body destroyed or irrecoverable.F1

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16Adjournment of inquest in event of criminal proceedings.F1

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17Provisions supplementary to section 16.F1

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17AAdjournment of inquest in event of judicial inquiry.F1

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18Inquests into road deaths in London.F1

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19Post-mortem examination without inquest.F1

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20Request to specially qualified person to make post-mortem and special examinations.F1

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21Summoning of medical witnesses and direction of post-mortem examinations.F1

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22Removal of body for post mortem examination.F1

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23Exhumation of body for examination.F1

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24Fees and allowances payable on holding inquest.F1

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25Payments to jurors.F1

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26Payment of expenses by coroner.F1

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27Accounts to be laid before relevant council.F1

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27AIndemnity.F1

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28Annual returns to be made to Secretary of State.F1

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29Coroner of the Queen’s household.F1

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30Treasure trove.F1

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31Provision of accommodation.F1

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32Power to make rules.F1

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33Savings for ex-officio coroners and judicial powers.F1

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34Application of Act to Isles of Scilly.F1

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35Interpretation.F1

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36Consequential amendments, repeals, transitional provisions and savings.F1

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37Short title, commencement and extent.F1

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