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Appointment and role of coroners

This section provides information for anyone interested in becoming a coroner, deputy coroner or assistant deputy coroner. It includes information about qualifications needed, duties and the deputy coroner's role.

Qualifications
Duties
Deputy and assistant deputy coroners

Qualifications

The coroner is an independent judicial officer presiding over a Court of Record within the English Judicial system and discharges his or her duties in accordance with the Coroners Act 1988, the Coroners Rules 1984 (as amended in 2005), and other relevant legislation. Although appointed and paid by local councils, the coroner is not a local government officer but holds office under the Crown.

Coroners are required under section 2 of the 1988 Act to have a general qualification within the meaning of Section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, or be a legally qualified medical practitioner - in either case of not less than 5 years standing. Alderman and councillors of local authorities are not eligible for appointment as coroners in their county or district, nor for 6 months after they cease to be one.

Duties

A coroner's duties are:

to investigate the circumstances of the deaths of all persons whose bodies are lying within his or her jurisdiction where he or she has reason to believe that the death was violent, unnatural or of unknown cause
to decide whether a post mortem examination is necessary for the purpose of his or her investigation and, if so, to give directions to an appropriate medical practitioner
to hold an inquest, with or without a jury, where he or she is satisfied that he or she is required to do so in accordance with section 8 of the 1988 Act
to notify the Registrar of Deaths of the findings of the inquest, or, if no inquest is held, of the fact that the death reported to him or her does not need to be subject to an inquest
to pay the relevant fees and allowances to witnesses and jurors, and to submit accounts to the relevant council
to make annual returns to the Secretary of State in connection with the inquests held and deaths he or she has enquired into
to appoint a deputy coroner, and, if required, an assistant deputy coroner.

Deputy and assistant deputy coroners

Under section 6 of the Coroners Act 1988 a coroner is required to appoint a suitably qualified person to act as his or her deputy. This person shall only be permitted so to act during the absence of the coroner due to illness or any lawful cause, or in the event of his or her inability to act in any case.

A coroner may also appoint a suitably qualified person to act as assistant deputy coroner, but who shall be permitted so to act, in place of the coroner and deputy coroner, only when both such persons are absent or otherwise unable to act as mentioned in the last paragraph.

Qualifications for deputy and assistant deputy coroners are the same as for coroners. In all cases, the approval of the chairman of the relevant council is required. Appointments may be revoked by the coroner, but do not take effect until a successor has been appointed and approved.