The Coroners Section deals with matters relating to coroners, burial law, exhumation, cremation, and war memorials. Coroners' enquiries and inquests are conducted in accordance with the Coroners Act 1988 and the Coroners Rules 1984. A newsletter is issued to coroners.
Ministers are interested in ensuring that coroners provide a high quality service to the public.
To this end a Model Coroners' Charter has recently been promulgated. Burial and exhumation 5. Much of the law is covered by Acts of Parliament dating back to the 19th century. Exhumation of both buried and cremated remains generally requires a Home Office licence unless the site is to be cleared for development, in which case directions regarding the disposal of the remains or consent to disturb these remains may be issued under the Disused Burial Grounds Act 1981, the Pastoral Measure 1983 or certain other Acts. Over 1000 licences for the exhumation of individual human remains are issued each year.