Coroners Act 1988 Coroners Appointment of coroners. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Qualifications for appointment as coroner. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terms on which coroners hold office. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coroners’ districts. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coroner areas : Wales. 4A 1)-(7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 A senior coroner appointed for any coroner area in Wales— a shall for all purposes be regarded as a senior 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 a senior coroner for the whole of Wales. 9)-(10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jurisdiction of coroners. 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deputy coroners Appointment of deputy coroners. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Functions of deputy coroners. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inquests: general Duty to hold inquest. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Qualifications of jurors. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Attendance of jurors and witnesses. 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proceedings at inquest. 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Failure of jury to agree. 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inquests: special cases Order to hold investigation . 13 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 or an investigation which ought to be held; or b where an inquest or 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 an investigation (or as the case may by, another investigation) should be held. 2 The High Court may— a order an investigation 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 a 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 any inquisition on, or determination or finding made at that inquest. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 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. 5 This 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). Inquest out of jurisdiction. 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inquest where body destroyed or irrecoverable. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjournment of inquest in event of criminal proceedings . 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provisions supplementary to section 16. 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adjournment of inquest in event of judicial inquiry. 17A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inquests into road deaths in London. 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Medical witnesses and post-mortem examinations etc. Post-mortem examination without inquest. 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Request to specially qualified person to make post-mortem and special examinations. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summoning of medical witnesses and direction of post-mortem examinations. 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removal of body for post mortem examination. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exhumation of body for examination. 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expenses and returns of inquests Fees and allowances payable on holding inquest. 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Payments to jurors. 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Payment of expenses by coroner. 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accounts to be laid before relevant council. 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indemnity. 27A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annual returns to be made to Secretary of State. 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miscellaneous Coroner of the Queen’s household. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasure trove. 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provision of accommodation. 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supplemental Power to make rules. 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Savings for ex-officio coroners and judicial powers. 33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Application of Act to Isles of Scilly. 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interpretation. 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consequential amendments, repeals, transitional provisions and savings. 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Short title, commencement and extent. 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .