Coroners statistics 2015: England and Wales
Source: data.gov.uk (2018-05-25)

Coroners Statistics. This annual bulletin presents statistics on the workload of coroners in England and Wales. Information is provided on the number of deaths reported to coroners, post-mortem examinations and inquests held and conclusions recorded at inquests. It also covers treasure finds reported to coroners, treasure inquests held under the Treasure Act, and proportion of treasure verdicts returned. The data are collected via annual statistical returns completed by coroners.

Data on deaths reported to the coroner are available by gender, age (of deceased with an inquest conclusion recorded) and coroner area. Information is also available on deaths in state detention (including those individuals subject Deprivation of Liberty orders), inquest conclusions and deaths abroad.

1 
 
 
Coroners Statistics Annual 
2015 
England and Wales 
 
Ministry of Justice 
Statistics bulletin  
 
 
 
 
Published 12 May 2016 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 
2
Contents 
Contents 
2 
Introduction 
3 
Key Findings 
11 
1: Deaths reported 
13 
2: Post-mortem examinations held and inquests opened 
15 
3: Inquests Completed 
20 
4: Treasure and Treasure Trove 
28 
Annex A: Map of coroner areas in England and Wales, 2015 
30 
Annex B: Details of recent coroner area amalgamations 
32 
Annex C: Further analysis of deaths reported to coroners 
33 
Explanatory notes 
35 
Contacts 
38 
 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 
3
Introduction 
This annual bulletin presents statistics of deaths reported to coroners in 
England and Wales in 2015. Information is provided on the number of deaths 
reported to coroners, post-mortem examinations and inquests held, and 
conclusions recorded at inquests. The data are collected via statistical returns 
completed by coroners. For previous editions of this report, please see: 
www.gov.uk/government/collections/coroners-and-burials-statistics 
This publication should be read alongside the statistical tables which 
accompany it, also found via the link above. There is also a supporting 
comma-separated values (CSV) file to allow users to carry out their own 
analysis.  
In addition to the bulletin and tables, we have published a coroners’ statistical 
tool (also available at the link above). The tool provides easier access to local 
level data and allows the user to compare up to four areas of interest, for 
example, it is possible to compare a coroner area with a geographical region, 
England or Wales. 
The Explanatory Notes section at the end of this bulletin provides information 
about statistical revisions, and the symbols and conventions used. 
If you have any feedback, questions or requests for further information about 
the bulletin, please direct them to the appropriate contact given at the end of 
this report. 
The legislation 
Coroner services in England and Wales are governed by Part 1 of the 
Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (the 2009 Act), as well as the rules and 
regulations made under it. The 2009 Act came into force in July 2013, largely 
replacing the Coroners Act 19881 (the 1988 Act). 
The 2009 Act and its rules and regulations can be accessed via the links 
below: 
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/contents  
www.legislation.gov.uk/2013?title=coroners 
                                            
1 The Coroners Act 1988 was repealed in July 2013 with the exceptions of section 13 (application for a 
fresh coroner investigation or inquest) and 4A(8) (a coroner in Wales being regarded as a coroner for 
the whole of Wales). 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 
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Chief Coroner 
The 2009 Act created the post of Chief Coroner to provide judicial oversight of 
the coroner system and leadership, guidance and support to coroners. The 
Chief Coroner’s main statutory responsibilities are to: 
• approve all coroner appointments made by local authorities (along with the 
Lord Chancellor); 
• keep a register of coroner investigations lasting more than 12 months; 
• collate, monitor and publish coroners’ reports to authorities to prevent 
future deaths; and 
• give the Lord Chancellor an annual report, which is published and laid 
before Parliament (see ‘Chief Coroner’s annual report’ section below). 
On 8 April 2015, it was announced that the Lord Chief Justice, after 
consultation with the Lord Chancellor, had extended the term of office of His 
Honour Judge Peter Thornton QC as Chief Coroner of England and Wales to 
1 October 2016. 
Further information on the Chief Coroner is available at: 
www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/office-chief-coroner  
Coroner areas and structure 
Under the 2009 Act, each coroner area has one senior coroner, and one or 
more assistant coroners. A coroner area may also have an area coroner (who 
may function as a deputy to the senior coroner).  
For information on changes to coroner areas, please see Annex A. 
Investigations 
Under the 2009 Act, a coroner conducts an ‘investigation’ into a death (which 
may or may not include an inquest). Much of the coroner’s investigation takes 
place before any formal inquest hearing, and includes the coroner considering 
whether the duty to hold an inquest applies to an individual case.  
A coroner has a duty to investigate a death if: 
1) the coroner is made aware that the body is within that coroner’s area, and 
2) the coroner has reason to suspect that: 
a) the deceased died a violent or unnatural death; 
b) the cause of the death is unknown; or 
c) the deceased died while in custody or state detention2. 
                                            
2 Includes deaths that occurred while the individual was subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard 
(DoLS) authorisation. See section on ‘changes in reporting’ for more information 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 
5
 
The coroner must then establish who has died and how, when, and where 
they died. 
A coroner’s inquest is held for all deaths in custody or state detention. An 
inquest with a jury is held where the deceased died while in custody or state 
detention and the death was violent or unnatural, or of unknown cause; where 
the death resulted from an act or omission of a police officer or member of a 
service police force in the purported execution of their duties; or where the 
death was caused by an accident, poisoning or disease which must be 
reported to a government department or inspector. Jury inquests are not 
required where the deceased died in custody but from natural causes. 
Once the post-mortem examination (including any histology or toxicology) has 
concluded, the coroner must decide how to proceed. There are three main 
options: 
• The post-mortem examination reveals that the deceased died of natural 
causes and the coroner considers that it is not necessary to (investigate 
or) continue the investigation. There will be no inquest. 
• The post-mortem examination reveals that the deceased died of natural 
causes but the coroner considers that it is necessary to (investigate or) 
continue the investigation. The coroner must then hold an inquest. 
• After the post-mortem examination, the coroner (still) has reason to 
suspect that the deceased died a violent or unnatural death, or the cause 
of death is unknown, or the deceased died while in custody/state 
detention. The coroner must then hold an inquest. 
Inquest conclusions 
At the end of an inquest, the coroner (or jury if applicable) completes a form 
entitled ‘Record of an inquest’. This form documents the ‘conclusion’ of the 
coroner or jury as to who died and how, when, and where they died.3 
A conclusion consists of the legal ‘determination’, which states who died, and 
where, when and how they died; and ‘findings’ which allow the cause of death 
to be registered. The coroner or jury may use one of the following short form 
conclusions4: 
• accident or misadventure 
• alcohol/drug related 
                                            
3 The 1988 Act term ‘verdict’ was replaced by the 2009 Act term ‘conclusion’. 
4 ‘Alcohol/drug related’ and ‘road traffic collision’ are new short form inquest conclusions under the 2009 
Act, which came into effect from July 2013.  
 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 
6
• industrial disease 
• lawful killing 
• unlawful killing 
• natural causes 
• open 
• road traffic collision 
• stillbirth 
• suicide  
Suspension of investigation / adjournment of inquest 
Under Schedule 1 to the 2009 Act a coroner must suspend an investigation 
(and if an inquest has been opened, adjourn that inquest) in the following 
circumstances: 
• If asked to do so by a prosecuting authority because someone may be 
charged with a homicide or related offence involving the death of the 
deceased (paragraph 1 of Schedule 1); 
• When criminal proceedings have been brought in connection with the 
death (paragraph 2 of Schedule 1) ; 
• Where there is an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 (paragraph 3 of 
Schedule 1); 
• If it appears to the coroner that it would be appropriate to suspend an 
investigation or adjourn an inquest (paragraph 5 of Schedule 1). 
Chief Coroner’s annual report 
The Chief Coroner’s annual report to the Lord Chancellor is a statement on 
the coroner system for the previous calendar year. It must contain an 
assessment of consistency of standards between coroner areas; information 
about investigations that have taken over 12 months to complete; and a 
summary of reports to prevent future deaths and the responses to these. The 
annual report is published on the Chief Coroner’s section of the judiciary 
website5.  
Coroners are therefore now required to notify the Chief Coroner of any 
investigation that lasts more than a year and to notify the Chief Coroner of the 
date on which any such investigation was subsequently concluded. 
                                            
5 www.judiciary.gov.uk/related-offices-and-bodies/office-chief-coroner/chief-coroners-annual-report-
2014-15/ 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 
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Further information 
For further background information on coroners and a flow-chart detailing the 
possible outcomes involved when a death is reported to a coroner, please 
refer to ‘A Guide to Civil and Administrative Justice Statistics’, which is 
available at: 
www.gov.uk/government/statistics/guide-to-civil-and-administrative-justice-
statistics 
A Glossary providing brief definitions for some of the terms used in this 
bulletin can also be found at the link above. 
Related statistics 
All deaths in England and Wales must be registered with the Registrar of 
Births and Deaths. For those deaths where a coroner conducts an inquest, the 
death will be registered at the conclusion of the inquest, and the cause of 
death classified according to the conclusion recorded by the coroner.  
Statistics on registered deaths in England and Wales are published by the 
Office for National Statistics (ONS) in their series on mortality statistics. These 
can be accessed from the ONS website at:  
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Mortality+Rates  
The Ministry of Justice's coroner statistics differ from ONS figures because 
they count two different, albeit related, events. The Ministry of Justice’s 
coroner statistics provide the number of deaths which are reported to coroners 
in England and Wales. These include deaths reported to coroners which 
occurred outside England and Wales. The ONS mortality statistics, based on 
death registrations, report the number of deaths registered (irrespective of 
whether a coroner has investigated) in England and Wales in a particular 
year, and therefore do not include deaths that occurred outside England and 
Wales. 
The proportion of deaths which are reported to coroners has been estimated6 
using death registration figures published by ONS. Estimates for 2015 have 
been calculated using ONS' monthly provisional figures on death registrations, 
while percentages for 2014 and earlier years have been calculated using final 
annual death registration figures for the relevant year. 
This publication includes figures for deaths which occurred in state custody.  
Statistics on deaths in prison custody are also published by the National 
Offender Management Service (NOMS), accessible via the following link: 
www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics 
                                            
6 Statistics on the number of registered deaths in England and Wales are published by the Office for 
National Statistics. A final figure for the total number of registered deaths in 2015 has not yet been 
published, so a provisional figure from ONS, derived from the monthly figures for death registrations in 
England and Wales, has been used. 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 
8
The figures for deaths in custody in this publication relate only to those deaths 
which have been reported to a coroner and then reported to MoJ, whereas the 
NOMS publication includes all deaths which have occurred in prison custody 
and those which occurred whilst the offender was released on temporary 
licence for medical reasons. 
 
Changes in reporting 
This publication introduces for the first time figures on deaths that occurred 
while an individual was subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS). 
DoLS authorisations occur when 'the person is under continuous supervision 
and control and is not free to leave, and the person lacks capacity to consent 
to these arrangements’7. Such arrangements constitute a form of state 
detention. The coroner data return for 2015 was modified to collect data on 
the number of deaths that occurred while the deceased was subject to a 
DoLS, as a category within the state detention section of the data return.  
Prior to 2015, data related to deaths of individuals subject to DoLS 
authorisations, e.g. deaths reported, post-mortem examinations and inquests 
held as well as conclusions record at inquests should have been included 
within the coroners’ returns.  New information collected for the first time this 
year records the specific number of deaths of individuals subject to DoLS 
authorisations within the state detention section of the data return.  
Collection of this information has coincided with a substantial increase in the 
overall number of DoLS authorisations issued in England and Wales following 
the Supreme Court judgment in the Cheshire West case8 and has had a 
significant impact on a number of key statistics reported within this publication. 
The Health & Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) 2014-15 Annual report 
records that on 31 March 2015, there were 36,215 active DoLS authorisations 
in place in England compared to 2,300 on 31 March 20149.  
In 2015, there were 7,183 deaths of individuals subject to DoLS authorisations 
reported to coroners. Equivalent data on the specific number of this type of 
death was not collected in 2014, although they should still be included within 
all other figures, e.g. deaths reported to the coroner, inquests held etc. 
                                            
7 The safeguards do not apply when someone is detained ('sectioned') under the Mental Health Act 
1983 
8 The Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment in the cases of P v Cheshire West and Chester Council and P&O 
v Surrey County Council (Cheshire West) clarified the circumstances in which a DoLS is likely to be 
required and made it clear that many more circumstances amounted to a deprivation of liberty by the 
state.  The Supreme Court decided that deprivation of liberty arose when the person concerned ‘was 
under continuous supervision control and was not free to leave’ and that the deprivation was the 
responsibility of the state. It did not matter that the patient in hospital or the resident of a care home was 
content or compliant or voiced no objection if in fact they did not have capacity to consent to the 
arrangements.  
 
9 www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB18577/dols-eng-1415-rep.pdf  Figure 3.2, page 25 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 
9
However, as the number of DoLS authorisations as of 30 March 2014 was 
only 2,300, the number of deaths of individuals subject to a DoLS 
authorisation in 2014 would have been minimal.   
Figure A below shows that the inclusion of deaths of individuals subject to 
DoLS authorisations within the number of deaths in state detention, has 
distorted the long-term trend.  However, the trend in deaths in state detention 
excluding DoLS is in line with that seen previously and within the Safety in 
Custody statistics quarterly bulletin (see ‘Related statistics’ section above). 
Figure A: Number of deaths in state detention, by type of detention, 
2011-2015 
 
The large increase in DoLS authorisations and the corollary increase in 
deaths of individuals whilst subject to DoLS has had an impact on a number of 
key statistics reported within this publication: 
• There were 6,968 more inquests opened in 2015, up 27% on the previous 
year, reversing the downward trend seen in the previous three years, 
driven by the increase in the number of deaths of individuals subject to 
DoLS authorisations reported, all of which require an inquest. 
 
• Of all inquests that concluded in 2015, the death by natural causes 
conclusion saw the largest increase, up 6,170 to 11,043 (+127%). This 
increase can be attributed to the fact that almost all (94%) of DoLS 
inquests record a conclusion of death by natural causes.  
 
 
 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 10
Table A: Number of deaths under Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard 
(DoLS), reported to coroners, by gender and inquest conclusion group, 
2015   
 
Male 
Female
Total
Natural causes 
2,497
4,263
6,760
Other causes 
194
229
423
Total 
2,691
4,492
7,183
 
• As a result of the majority of DoLS inquests recording a conclusion of 
natural causes, the proportion of post-mortems being carried out in 
inquests has reduced (down 20 percentage points to 56% in 2015) – post-
mortems are not required in deaths recorded at inquest as being due to 
natural causes.  
 
• Reporting on an increased number of deaths of individuals subject to 
DoLS authorisations has also impacted on the average time taken for a 
case to be concluded, down 8 weeks (from 28 weeks in 2014 to 20 weeks 
in 2015).  In uncontroversial cases, an inquest may be carried out as a 
‘paper’ inquest i.e. decided in open court but on the papers, without 
witnesses having to attend, and with the relevant medical data being 
analysed without a post-mortem.  
 
Users of the statistics 
The main users of these statistics are coroners and Ministers and officials in 
central government to assist in developing coroners’ policy and its subsequent 
monitoring. Other users include the Chief Coroner, local authorities (who are 
responsible for appointing and paying coroners as well as funding their 
services), other central government departments, and those non-
governmental bodies, including various voluntary organisations, with an 
interest in coroners and inquests. The statistics are used to monitor the 
volume and types of cases dealt with by coroners in England and Wales each 
year. 
 
Date of next publication 
The next edition of Coroners Statistics Annual 2016 is scheduled to be 
published in May 2017, covering statistics for calendar year 2016. 
 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 11
 
Key Findings 
• 236,406 deaths were reported to coroners in 2015, an increase of 12,565 
(6%) from 2014, reflecting the rise in the number of registered deaths10 
from 2014 to 2015 (up 6%) and the increase in the number of deaths 
under Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) authorisations reported to 
coroners. 
• Just under half (45%) of all registered deaths6 were reported to coroners in 
2015, the same level seen in 2014 and 2013. Over the last ten years, this 
proportion has been generally consistent, within the range of 45% to 47%. 
• In 2015, newly collected figures on deaths of individuals subject to DoLS 
authorisations show that there were 7,183 such deaths.  
• The number of inquests opened in 2015 increased by 6,968 (up 27%) to 
32,857, driven by the increase in DoLS authorisations and the corollary 
increase in deaths while subject to DoLS. All such cases require an 
inquest.  
• There were 89,206 post-mortem examinations ordered by coroners in 
2015, 38% of all cases reported to them. This is down two percentage 
points since 2014, consistent with the long-term downward trend.  
• For those inquests concluded in 2015, there were 35,473 total inquest 
conclusions recorded, up 22% on 2014, reflecting in part the rise in the 
number of inquests opened.  Inquest conclusions of natural causes were 
up 127% on 2014 to 11,043, driven by the majority (94%) of DoLS cases 
having an inquest conclusion of natural causes. The number of inquests 
resulting in a conclusion of natural causes, excluding those for 6,760 
deaths of individuals subject to DoLS authorisations, was stable with the 
previous year.  
• In 2015, post-mortem examinations were conducted in 56% of inquest 
cases, down 20 percentage points on 2014, driven by the increase in 
deaths of individuals subject to DoLS authorisation – all such cases 
require an inquest, with the majority recording an inquest conclusion of 
natural causes; a post-mortem examination is therefore unlikely to be 
required to determine the cause of death and the inquest may well be a 
‘paper’ inquest.   
• Just three of the ten possible inquest short form conclusions account for 
almost 67% of all conclusions recorded. These are natural causes (31%) 
accident and misadventure (22%) and unclassified inquest conclusions 
(14%).  
• 
The estimated average time taken to process an inquest in 2015 was 20 
weeks, with a minimum of 5 weeks and a maximum of 61 weeks across 
                                            
10 A provisional figure for the number of registered deaths in 2015 in England and Wales has been used, 
derived from monthly figures produced by the Office for National Statistics. 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 12
coroner areas. This is an improvement of 8 weeks, when compared to 
2014.  This can largely be attributed to DoLS where, in accordance with 
the Chief Coroner’s guidance,11 in uncontroversial cases the inquest can 
be a ‘paper inquest’ i.e. decided in open court but on papers without the 
need for witnesses or a post mortem. 
 
                                            
11 www.rcgp.org.uk/~/media/Files/RCGP-Faculties-and-Devolved-Nations/SW-England-
Wales/Tamar/Chief%20Coroner%20Guidance%20on%20DOLS.ashx 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 13
1: Deaths reported 
The number of deaths reported to coroners in 2015 rose by 12,565 (6%) from 
the previous year - from 223,841 in 2014 to 236,406 in 2015 which reflects the  
increase in the number of deaths registered in England and Wales (up 6%). 
The proportion of registered deaths in 2015 that were reported to coroners 
was 45%, no change from 2013 and 2014. 
Figure 1: Registered deaths and deaths reported to coroners, England 
and Wales, 2004-2015 
 
 
Over the last decade, the number of registered deaths in England and Wales 
has decreased from 512,993 in 2005 to 501,424 in 2014 rising to 529,61312 in 
2015. The number of deaths reported to coroners has also fluctuated over the 
last ten years with 232,401 deaths reported in 2005, rising to a high of 
234,784 in 2008. The number of deaths reported to coroners fell to its lowest 
since 2001 to 223,841 in 2014, rising by 12,565 deaths in 2015. 
Map 1 below shows deaths reported in each coroner area in 2015 as a 
percentage of the total deaths in each area 13. 
                                            
12 Provisional figure based on ONS monthly death registration figures for 2015 
13 The reported deaths figure for 2015 is provisional, based on ONS monthly death registration figures 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 14
Map 1: Deaths reported to coroners as a percentage of total registered 
deaths in each area14, England and Wales, 2015 
 
The proportion of deaths reported to the coroner varies from 26% in Rutland 
and North Leicestershire to 92% in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire. 
                                            
14 The ONS death registration figures are based on area of usual residence whereas the coroners’ 
figures are based on the area where a person died. Therefore the coroner office for the City of London 
shows a distorted figure of 476% due to the low levels of residence and high level of commuters. 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 15
2: Post-mortem examinations held and inquests 
opened 
Post-mortem examinations were held for 89,206 deaths reported to coroners 
in 2015, down 669 (1%) from 2014. 
Post-mortem examinations were ordered by coroners in 38% of all deaths 
reported to them in 2015, down by two percentage points on 2014, and 
consistent with the existing long-term downward trend. Since 1995, the 
proportion of post-mortem examinations ordered has decreased by 23 
percentage points, from 61% to 38% (see Table 3). 
There were 32,857 inquests opened in 2015, an increase of 27% on 2014, 
driven by the increase in deaths of individuals subject to DoLS authorisations, 
as all such cases require an inquest15.  
Inquest cases represented 14% of all the deaths reported to coroners in 2015, 
an increase of two percentage points on 2014.  
Figure 2: Post-mortems and inquests as a percentage of deaths reported 
to coroners, England and Wales, 2004-2015 
 
                                            
15 More information on DoLS can be found in the changes to reporting section of the Introduction to the 
publication 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 16
Map 2: Post-mortems held as a proportion of deaths reported to 
coroners, England and Wales, 2015 
 
The proportion of post-mortems carried out varies from 20% in the City of 
London to 62% in Isle of Wight.   

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 17
Map 3: Inquests opened as a proportion of deaths reported to coroners, 
England and Wales, 2015 
 
 
 
The proportion of inquests carried out varies from 5% in Gwent to 36% in 
Hartlepool (when excluding Isles of Scilly, due to small numbers).  
 
Post-mortem examinations in inquest cases 
When an inquest is opened, a post-mortem examination will usually be 
conducted. In 2015, over a half (56%) of inquest cases involved a post-
mortem, down 20 percentage points on 2014 continuing the declining trend 
seen over the past decade (from 93% in 2006). Historically, it was quite rare 
for an inquest to be opened without a post-mortem; however, since 1997 this 
proportion had been gradually increasing, with sharp increases seen in the 
last two years. In 2015, 44% of all inquests had no post-mortem, compared 
with 24% in 2014 and 16% in 2013. This may be attributed to the provisions in 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 18
the Coroners Act 2009 which came into effect in July 2013, allowing a coroner 
to conduct a brief investigation prior to making a decision on whether to hold a 
formal inquest. These are captured in the potential inquest cases below.  
Post-mortems in non-inquest cases 
In the majority (84%) of cases referred to coroners, there is no inquest. In 
2015, there were 66,549 non-inquest cases where a post-mortem was held. 
The percentage of non-inquest cases that required a post-mortem has 
remained at 34% for the past four years although this proportion had fallen 
steadily prior to this; at the beginning of the time series, in 1995, it was 56%. 
Post-mortems in potential inquest cases 
Prior to July 2013, cases were either categorised as ‘inquest’ or ‘non-inquest’ 
cases. Changes in the way coroners are able to conduct an investigation 
mean that there is now a third category of ‘potential inquest’ cases. This 
means that the coroner is investigating the death, but has not yet decided 
whether it is necessary to hold an inquest. Depending on whether or not the 
coroner deems it necessary to hold an inquest, these cases will all eventually 
end up in either the ‘inquest’ or ‘non-inquest’ category.  
In 2015, there were 4,971 potential inquest cases being dealt with by coroners 
in England and Wales, with almost all (87%) requiring a post-mortem. 
Cases requiring neither an inquest nor a post-mortem 
There were 132,029 cases reported to coroners where there was neither an 
inquest nor a post-mortem. This type of case has generally been increasing in 
number in recent years (in 2005 there were 116,047 such cases), with this 
year increasing by 4,383 cases (3%). The proportion of cases where there 
was neither an inquest nor a post-mortem examination has remained stable 
over the last four years, at 66%. Prior to this time the proportion had been 
increasing, since the time series began in 1995, when it stood at 44%.  
Post-mortem rates, histology16 and toxicology17 
Post-mortem examinations can be classed as either standard or non-
standard, depending on the cost of the examination. A non-standard post-
mortem is charged at a higher rate than a standard post-mortem and is 
defined as a post-mortem which requires special skills. A non-standard post-
mortem could, for example, require a paediatric or specialist pathologist. In 
2015, almost all (95%) of post-mortems were ordered at a standard rate - this 
has remained at the same level since 2011. 
In 2015, 18,659 post-mortems included histology; and despite an increase in 
the overall number by 226 from last year, the proportion of post-mortems 
which included histology which has remained at 21% of all post mortems. In 
                                            
16 Histology in the context of post-mortems is the examination of tissues under a microscope. 
17 Toxicology in the context of post-mortems is the study of body fluids and tissues for the detection of 
drugs. 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 19
2015, 14,732 post-mortems held included toxicology (17% of post-mortems 
held), which was 1,028 more than in 2014, an increase of 8%. This follows the 
steady rising trend seen since 2011.  
Out of England and Wales Orders  
To remove a body of a deceased person out of England and Wales, notice 
must be given to the coroner within whose area the body is lying. When the 
coroner gives permission for the removal of a body, an Out of England and 
Wales order is issued. 
Coroners issued 5,339 Out of England and Wales orders in 2015, compared 
with 5,232 issued in 2014. In both years, the number of orders issued 
represented 2% of the total number of deaths reported to coroners – this 
proportion has been stable at this level since 2011 (see Table 5). 
Deaths abroad 
Of the 236,406 deaths reported to coroners in 2015, around 1% (1,874) were 
reports of deaths that had occurred outside England and Wales. This has 
remained at the same level since 2011.  
Deaths in State Detention 
In 2015, a total of 7,667 deaths which occurred in state detention were 
reported to coroners18, an increase of 7,315 deaths on the previous year and 
representing 3% of all deaths reported to coroners.  
Prior to 2015, deaths of individuals subject to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard 
(DoLS) authorisations were not collected separately within the ‘Deaths in state 
detention’ section of the coroners’ return although all such deaths would have 
been reported to coroners and included in published statistics although the 
number would have been minimal. 
In 2015, newly collected figures show that there were 7,183 deaths of 
individuals subject to DoLS 19 authorisations – the large increase since 2014 is 
in line with that seen in the number of active DoLS authorisations; as of 31 
March 2015, there were over 36,000 compared with 2,300 as of March 2014.  
Deaths of individuals subject to DoLS authorisations accounted for 94% of all 
deaths in state in detention in 2015.  
 
                                            
18 This data only represents deaths in custody which were referred to a coroner and subsequently 
reported to MoJ in the coroner’s annual return. 
19 See introduction, section changes to reporting for more information on DoLS. 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 20
3: Inquests Completed 
There were 35,473 inquests conclusions recorded in 2015, up by 6,320 (22%) 
from 2014, in part reflecting the increase in the number of inquests opened. 
This is the highest number of inquest conclusions recorded since the series 
began in 1995. 
Historically, the most common inquest conclusions (in order of frequency 
observed) were death from natural causes, death by accident or misadventure 
and unclassified conclusions. In 2015 the most common conclusions (by order 
of frequency) continue to be death from natural causes (11,043 or 31%), 
death by accident and misadventure (7,977 or 22%), and unclassified (4,870 
or 14%).  
Figure 3: Conclusions recorded at inquest, by category and as a 
proportion of all conclusions, England and Wales, 2014 and 201520 21 
 
 
The conclusion category driving the increase seen when compared to 2014 is 
death by natural causes, which increased by 127% (6,170 more conclusions), 
driven by the majority (94%) of deaths of individuals subject to DoLS 
authorisations having an inquest conclusion of natural causes.  Historically, 
natural cause conclusions had been steadily increasing, until last year (2014), 
                                            
20 Figures may not equal 100% due to rounding. 
21 All other conclusions (including Killed unlawfully, Killed lawfully, Attempted or self-induced abortion, 
Cause of death aggravated by lack of care, or self-neglect, Want of attention at birth, Stillborn, 
Disasters) were not included in the chart as they represented less than 0.5% of the short-form 
conclusions  

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 21
where they fell by 4,008 or 45% compared to 2013. This was explained to be 
in part due to the Coroners Act 2009 coming into effect in July 2013, which 
meant coroners could issue a death certificate without holding an inquest 
when it is known that a death has occurred naturally. In 2015, the number of 
inquests recording a natural causes conclusion, excluding DoLS, was stable 
compared with the previous year. 
Figure 4: Number of conclusions recorded at inquests, England and 
Wales, 2004-2015 
 
*Killed unlawfully, Killed lawfully, Attempted or self-induced abortion, Cause of death aggravated by lack of care, or 
self-neglect, Want of attention at birth, Stillborn, Disasters, Open, Industrial Diseases, Drugs/Alcohol Related22, Road 
traffic collision  
For the remaining conclusion types, drugs and alcohol related cases 
increased by 622 cases (up 38%) to 2,267 and road traffic collisions by 177 
cases (up 27%) to 779. These two categories were added as short form 
conclusions in 2014, resulting in the large increase seen in figure 4, for the ‘all 
other conclusion’ group. The remaining conclusions either saw a slight 
decrease or remained stable when compared to 2014.  
Although overall accident and misadventure inquest conclusions remained 
stable when compared to 2014, with 7,977 conclusions, the trend differed by 
gender – females up 5% (172 cases) and males down 3% (136 cases).   
                                            
22 For years 2004-2013, this includes the previously used conclusions “Dependence on Drugs” and 
“Non-dependence on Drugs” 
 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 22
In 2015, the number of unclassified conclusions decreased by 391 cases 
(down 7%) to 4,870, continuing the trend change seen in 2014, where 
unclassified cases decreased for the first time. Prior to 2014, unclassified 
cases had been increasing year on year since records began in 1995. The 
proportion of conclusions that were unclassified had also been increasing year 
on year, from 1% in 1995 to 18% in 2014, until 2015, where it dropped by 4 
percentage points to 14%. This decrease in unclassified conclusions is likely 
due to the large increase seen in natural causes conclusion category.  
The rise in proportion of unclassified conclusions seen until 2014 is partly due 
to the increasing use of what are known as ‘narrative conclusions’ by some 
coroners. In these cases, the conclusion is recorded as unclassified. As well 
as narrative conclusions, this category includes short non-standard 
conclusions which a coroner or jury might return when the circumstances do 
not easily fit any of the standard conclusions23.  
As a proportion of all conclusions, death by accident or misadventure has 
been declining steadily, from 35% of conclusions in 2005 to 22% in 2015, with 
an increase to 27% in 2014. Open conclusions have been decreasing over 
the same period, particularly over the last few years - they accounted for 5% 
in 2015 compared with 9% in 2005. The proportion of inquest conclusions 
recorded as suicide has decreased to 11% in 2015 since peaking in 1995 at 
18%. 
 
 
 
                                            
23 An analysis on unclassified conclusions can be found in the Coroners Statistics 2012 publication 
(Annex A), available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coroners-statistics  

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 23
 
Map 4: Suicide conclusions as a proportion of all inquest conclusions, 
England and Wales, 2015 
 
The proportion of conclusions recorded as suicide varies from 0% in 
Gateshead and South Tyneside, to 27% in Gwent (when excluding City of 
London and Isle of Scilly, due to small numbers).  A majority of the coroner 
offices (56) recorded suicide conclusions in 10% to 19% of inquests. 
 
Differences in conclusions recorded by gender 
The pattern of conclusions recorded differs between males and females. Male 
deaths accounted for 60% of all conclusions recorded in 2015, however they 
accounted for just over half (54%) of deaths reported; this suggests that males 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 24
are more likely to die in circumstances that lead to an inquest. Female deaths 
accounted for about 40% of all conclusions recorded in 2015 (and 46% of 
deaths reported).  
• Of the 3,899 conclusions of suicide, 77% were for males and 23% for 
females. 
• Of the 1,736 open conclusions, 71% were for males and 29% for females. 
• 56% of the 11,043 conclusions of death from natural causes were for 
females, the remaining 44% were for males. 
Figure 5: Conclusions recorded at inquests by sex, England and Wales, 
2015 
 
*Killed unlawfully, Killed lawfully, Attempted or self-induced abortion, Cause of death aggravated by lack of care, or 
self-neglect, Want of attention at birth, Stillborn, Disasters, Accident and misadventure 
 
Age of deceased in inquests where a conclusion was recorded 
Since 2008, coroners have been asked to provide information (in summary 
form) on the ages of persons in inquest cases where a conclusion was 
recorded. Of the inquests completed in 2015, three-fifths related to persons 
who were aged 65 years or over at time of death compared with 5% which 
related to persons under 25 year of age (see Table 8). Although an age 
breakdown of registered deaths in England and Wales in 2015 is not yet 
available, ONS figures for 2014 show that 84% of registered deaths in 
England and Wales were persons aged 65 or over, with only 1% aged under 
25 years old.   
The profile of the age of deceased in inquests has changed compared to 
2014, i.e. half of inquests completed in 2014 related to persons aged 65 or 
over compared with 61% in 2015.  This may be due to the increase in the 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 25
number of deaths of individuals subject to DoLS authorisations, all of which 
require an inquest and may predominantly relate to the older population. 
Figure 6: Age of deceased in inquests where a conclusion was recorded, 
England and Wales, 201524 
 
 
 
Inquests with juries and adjourned inquests  
The number of inquests held with juries in 2015 was 457 (representing 1% of 
all inquests), an increase of 60 compared to 2015.  
Both the number and proportion of inquests held with juries showed a 
downward trend until recent years but the trend appears now to have 
stabilised, with the proportion remaining between 1% and 2% for the last 
eleven years (see Table 9). 
In 2015, 728 inquests were adjourned (and not resumed) by the coroner 
under Schedule 125 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 because criminal 
proceedings took place. This represents 2% of all inquests concluded, the 
same proportion as 2014 and 2013, and slightly less than in earlier years - 
around 3% since 2006. 
                                            
24 The ‘age not known’ category has been excluded from the chart due to small numbers (less than 
0.5%). Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding. 
25 Schedule 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 states that the coroner should adjourn an inquest in 
the event that criminal proceedings may or will take place. 
2% 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 26
 
 
Time taken to process an inquest 
The estimated26 average time taken to process an inquest in 2015 (defined as 
being from the date the death was reported until the conclusion of the inquest) 
was 20 weeks (see Table 13)27, a reduction of 8 weeks compared to 2014. 
This can largely be attributed to DoLS where, in accordance with the Chief 
Coroner’s guidance, in uncontroversial cases, an inquest can be a ‘paper 
inquest’, i.e. decided in open court but on papers without the needs for 
witnesses or a post-mortem.   
The maximum average time taken to process an inquest in 2015 was 61 
weeks, and the minimum average time was 6 weeks. The large range of 
average time (55 weeks – based on 6 and 61 weeks) could be due to the fact 
that coroners’ caseloads can vary greatly and a direct comparison between 
coroner areas is therefore not advised. 
More information about how the average time taken has been estimated can 
be found in the explanatory notes section of this report.   
                                            
26 A direct average of the time taken to process an inquest cannot be calculated from the summary data 
collected; an estimate has been made instead.  Please see the explanatory notes section of this report 
for more information.   
27 Only deaths occurring within England and Wales are included in this estimation. 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 27
Map 5: Average time taken to process inquests, England and Wales, 
2015 
 
 
The average time taken to process an inquest varies from 6 weeks in 
Hartlepool to 61 weeks in West London.   
 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 28
4: Treasure and Treasure Trove 
On 24 September 1997, the Treasure Act 1996 came into force and replaced 
the common law of Treasure Trove in England and Wales. The 1996 Act 
introduced new requirements for reporting and dealing with finds. Not all finds 
need be the subject of an inquest. For more information please see: 
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/24/contents 
In 2015, 810 finds were reported and 390 inquests were concluded.  In 
addition, there were seven inquests held into Treasure Trove in 2015 (relating 
to finds made before the current Act came into force), and it is likely that a few 
such inquests will continue to be held from time to time. 
The number of finds reported has been steadily increasing over the last ten 
years; in 2015 there was an increase of 4% compared to 2014. Of those 390 
inquests concluded in 2015, 96% (373) returned a verdict of treasure, a rise 
from91% (317) in 2014. 
An annual report on the operation of the Treasure Act 1996 is published by 
the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. For more information please 
see: 
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-culture-media-
sport/series/treasure-and-portable-antiquities-statistics 
Figure 7: Finds reported to coroners, treasure inquests held under the 
Treasure Act, and proportion of treasure verdicts returned, 2004-201528 
 
 
                                            
28 This chart does not include reported findings under “Treasure Trove”  

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 29
Map 6: Number of treasure finds reported to coroners, England and 
Wales, 2015 
 
Thirty-one coroner areas had no treasure finds reported to them.  Norfolk had 
the highest number of treasure finds at 97.  

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 30
Annex A: Map of coroner areas in England and Wales, 
2015 
 
 
Key to coroner areas 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 31
North East 
101 – County Durham and Darlington 
103 – Hartlepool  
104 – North Northumberland 
105 – South Northumberland 
106 – Teesside 
107 – Gateshead and South Tyneside 
108 – Newcastle upon Tyne 
109 – North Tyneside 
110 – Sunderland 
 
North West 
201 – Cheshire 
203 – Cumbria 
205 – Manchester (city) 
206 – Manchester North 
207 – Manchester South  
208 – Manchester West 
209 – Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley 
210 – Blackpool and Fylde 
211 – East Lancashire 
212 – Preston and West Lancashire 
213 – Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens 
214 – Liverpool and the Wirral 
 
Yorkshire and the Humber 
301 – East Riding and Hull 
302 – North Lincolnshire and Grimsby 
303 – York City 
304 – North Yorkshire - East 
305 – North Yorkshire - West 
306 – South Yorkshire - East 
307 – South Yorkshire - West 
308 – West Yorkshire - East 
309 – West Yorkshire - West 
 
East Midlands 
401 – Derby and Derbyshire 
403 – Leicester and South Leicestershire 
404 – North Leicestershire and Rutland 
406 – Central Lincolnshire 
408 – South Lincolnshire 
409 – Northamptonshire 
410 – Nottinghamshire 
 
West Midlands 
501 – Herefordshire 
502 – Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin 
504 – Staffordshire South 
505 – Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire 
507 – Warwickshire 
508 – Birmingham and Solihull 
509 – Black Country 
510 – Coventry 
512 – Worcestershire 
 
 
East of England 
601 – Bedfordshire and Luton  
602 – Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 
604 – Essex 
605 – Hertfordshire 
607 – Norfolk 
611 – Suffolk 
 
London 
701 – City of London [not visible] 
702 – East London 
703 – Inner London North 
704 – Inner London South 
705 – Inner London West 
706 – North London 
707 – South London 
708 – West London 
 
South East 
801 – Berkshire 
802 – Brighton and Hove 
803 – Buckinghamshire 
804 – East Sussex 
805 – Central Hampshire 
806 – North East Hampshire 
807 – Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 
808 – Southampton and New Forest 
809 – Isle of Wight 
810 – Central and South East Kent 
811 – Mid Kent and Medway 
812 – North East Kent 
813 – North West Kent 
814 – Milton Keynes 
815 – Oxfordshire 
816 – Surrey 
817 – West Sussex 
 
South West 
901 – Avon 
902 – Cornwall 
903 – Exeter and Greater Devon 
904 – Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon 
906 – Dorset 
908 – Gloucestershire 
909 – Isles of Scilly 
910 – Eastern Somerset 
911 – Western Somerset 
912 – Wiltshire and Swindon 
 
Wales 
1001 – Powys, Bridgend & Glamorgan Valleys 
1002 – Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan 
1003 – Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire 
1004 – North Wales (East and Central) 
1005 – Ceredigion 
1006 – Gwent 
1007 – Swansea and Neath Port Talbot 
1009 – North West Wales

32 
Annex B: Details of recent coroner area 
amalgamations 
The following table summarises the coroner area amalgamations that have 
occurred since the 2014. This bulletin uses the coroner areas shown below 
that were formed in 2015 to breakdown the figures. Additionally, one of the 
2016 amalgamations, has also been included in this report. A 2015 data 
return was received from Somerset coroner area, even though this area did 
not officially come into force until 1st April 2016. Therefore it was not 
possible to report on East Somerset and West Somerset coroner areas 
individually. 
 
Date 
effective 
Previous coroner area 
New coroner area 
Nature of 
merge 
01-Jan-15 
North and West Cumbria; South and 
East Cumbria 
Cumbria 
2 into 1 
02-Apr-15 
Liverpool; the Wirral 
Liverpool and the 
Wirral 
2 into 1 
01-Aug-15 
North and East Cambridgeshire; South 
and West Cambridgeshire; 
Peterborough 
Cambridgeshire and 
Peterborough 
3 into 1 
01-Apr-16 
East Somerset; West Somerset 
Somerset 
2 into 1 
01-Apr-16 
Cornwall; the Isles of Scilly 
Cornwall and the 
Isles of Scilly  
2 into 1 
01-Apr-16 
Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan; Powys, 
Bridgend & Glamorgan Valleys;  
 
South Wales Central 
2 into 1 
 
 
 
 
 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 33
 
Annex C: Further analysis of deaths reported to 
coroners 
The number of deaths reported to coroners in 2015 varied by coroner area – 
from 14 in the Isles of Scilly to 6,869 in Essex. The number of deaths 
reported in each area will be affected by its size, population and 
demographic breakdown so comparisons of deaths reported to the coroner 
across coroner areas should be treated with caution. 
Figure C1: Number of deaths reported to coroners, 2015 
 
When looking at the number of deaths reported to coroners in 2015 as a 
proportion of registered deaths29, which should allow for differences in 
population characteristics, there is still a wide variation across coroner areas 
e.g. 26% in Rutland and North Leicestershire compared with 92% in Stoke-
on-Trent and North Staffordshire.  
                                            
29 As the ONS death registration figures are based on area of usual residence whereas the coroners’ 
figures are based on the area where a person died, these figures should be used with caution. For 
example, the coroner office for the City of London shows a distorted figure of 476% due to the low 
levels of residence and high level of commuters. 
 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 34
Figure C2: Deaths reported to coroners in 2014 as a proportion of 
registered deaths30,31 
 
 
                                            
30 Provisional figure based on ONS monthly death registration figures for 2015 
31 Data for the City of London has been excluded from this analysis due to the small size of this 
coroner area. The total number of coroner areas shown in Figure C2 is therefore 93. 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 35
Explanatory notes 
The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as 
National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration 
Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for 
Official Statistics. 
Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics: 
• meet identified user needs; 
• are well explained and readily accessible; 
• are produced according to sound methods, and 
• are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest. 
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory 
requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed. 
The data analysed in this publication are based on annual returns from 
coroners. Thanks are due to coroners and their staff for their work in 
preparing these returns. 
Quality and consistency of the statistics 
The figures presented in this report are collected via statistical returns 
completed by coroners. For the calendar year 2015, all coroner area returns 
were received electronically. The process by which coroners provide their 
returns can vary according to the case management system they use. Many 
coroners use a system provided by an external contractor, while other 
coroners use alternative computer systems or a paper-based system. 
Although care is taken in completing, analysing and quality-assuring the 
data provided on the statistical returns, the figures are, of necessity, subject 
to possible inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale collection of this type. 
Every effort is made, however, to ensure that the figures presented in this 
publication are accurate and complete. 
Returns are individually quality-assured and validated in a process that 
highlights inconsistencies between years, and between areas. Checks are 
made to ensure that each return is arithmetically correct, e.g. subtotals and 
overall totals are correctly summed. Unusual or outlying values found within 
returns are queried with the data supplier, to confirm whether these are 
correct, or that an error exists in the information provided which requires 
amendment. 
There were two coroner areas where data discrepancies from the 2015 data 
returns were unresolvable at the time of publication. East Sussex and 
Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon coroner areas. Both reported 
discrepancies when reporting the number of post-mortems by type, whether 
by standard and non-standard rate and by gender and inquest situation of 
the case. Following discussions with these coroner areas we took the post-

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 36
mortem by gender and inquest, to be the correct official figure for these 
areas.        
Coroners are independent office-holders, and there is considerable variation 
in the way each coroner’s area is structured and managed, and in the 
mechanisms they have in place for discharging their duties under the 
Coroners Act. From a statistical perspective one of these differences relates 
to the way they approach the handling of “NFA” cases. 
Many deaths referred to coroners require no further action being taken by 
them – these are known as “NFA” cases. These are deaths reported to 
coroners where there was no inquest, no post-mortem, and no certificate 
was issued by the coroner for registration or any other purpose. The 
statistics for 1995 onwards include all NFA cases within the figures for 
deaths reported that required neither an inquest nor a post-mortem. Prior to 
1995, however, some coroners did not report some or all of their NFA cases 
in their annual statistics (figures for some earlier years are shown in Table 
2), and the inclusion of all NFA cases in the statistics addressed this 
inconsistency in reporting. 
Despite the inclusion of all NFA cases in the statistics since 1995, there may 
still however be some differences between coroners as to which cases they 
consider constitute a substantive “reported death” (and are therefore 
reported in their statistics) where little or no action is required on their part 
and no post-mortem or inquest is held. As such, the statistics reflect those 
cases which each individual coroner considers to be a death reported to 
them, and the figures for different coroner areas can be compared on this 
basis. 
 
Timeliness of inquests  
For the purpose of determining the timeliness of inquests, the time taken to 
conduct an inquest is deemed to be from the day the death was reported to 
the coroner until either (a) the day the inquest is concluded by the delivery 
of a verdict or (b) the day the coroner certifies that an adjourned inquest will 
not be resumed.  
 
The average time for an inquest to be conducted is estimated in the 
following way: Coroners are asked in their annual return to state how many 
inquests were concluded within certain time periods. There are five time 
bands, which are: within one month; 1-3 months; 3-6 months; 6-12 months; 
and over 12 months. All the inquests falling within a time-band are then 
assumed to have been completed at or near the mid-point of the various 
time-bands for the purposes of calculating the average, although inquests 
within the “under one month” band are assumed to have taken 3 weeks for 
this purpose of this estimation, and those inquests taking over a year to 
conclude were deemed to have taken 18 months, although the time-band 
itself is open-ended. Numbers are then aggregated and the average figure 
(in weeks) calculated in the normal way. 
 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 37
Only deaths occurring within England and Wales are included in the 
calculation. Statistics are not collected on the time taken for inquests where 
the death occurred outside England and Wales. Deaths occurring abroad 
are often significantly delayed because of the difficulty, for example, of 
obtaining reports from other countries. 
Revisions to statistics for previous years 
The estimated figure for the number of registered deaths in 2014 which was 
derived for the purposes of Table 2 in last year’s edition of this bulletin has 
now been replaced by an actual figure subsequently published by the Office 
for National Statistics.  
Symbols and conventions 
The following symbols have been used throughout the tables in this bulletin: 
n/a    = Not applicable 
- 
= Zero 
.. 
= No data available 
(p) 
= provisional data 
(r)  
= Revised data 
Further notes 
Prior to 1 June 2005, policy responsibility for coroners lay with the Home 
Office, but on that date it passed to the Department for Constitutional Affairs 
as part of machinery of government changes following the 2005 general 
election. Responsibility now lies with the Ministry of Justice, which was 
created on 9 May 2007. 
Prior to the transfer of responsibility, the Home Office published statistical 
bulletins based on coroners’ annual returns, from 1980. The last four 
bulletins published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin series were as 
follows: for year 2003, bulletin 9/04; for 2002, bulletin 6/03; for 2001, bulletin 
3/02; and for year 2000, bulletin 7/01. These may be found at: 
webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/http://rds.homeoffice.
gov.uk/rds/hosbarchive.html 
Editions of this bulletin for years up to and including 2009, published by the 
Ministry of Justice, the Department for Constitutional Affairs, and the Home 
Office, were entitled “Statistics on deaths reported to coroners, England and 
Wales, (year)”. 

Coroners Statistics 2015 
 38
Contacts 
Current and previous editions of this publication are available for download 
at: 
www.gov.uk/government/collections/coroners-and-burials-statistics  
 
The spreadsheet file of the statistical tables referred to in this bulletin is also 
available for download from this address, along with the CSV file and the 
Coroners Statistical Tool spreadsheet. 
 
Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office: 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx 
Email: xxx@xxx.xx  
 
 
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to: 
Tara Rose 
Ministry of Justice 
7th Floor (7.07) 
102 Petty France 
London 
SW1H 9AJ 
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
A copy of the data collection form which was sent to coroners may be 
obtained via the contact details above. 
 
General enquiries about the statistical work of the Ministry of Justice can be 
e-mailed to: xxx@xxx.xx  
 
Other National Statistics publications, and general information about the 
official statistics system of the UK, are available from www.statistics.gov.uk. 
 
© Crown copyright 
Produced by the Ministry of Justice 
Alternative formats are available on request from 
xxx@xxx.xx