The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the law and policy governing coroners. Coroners are independent judicial officers appointed and paid for by the relevant local authorities who are responsible for investigating violent, unnatural deaths or sudden deaths of unknown cause and deaths in custody that are reported to them.

The MOJ also deals with the operation of the current coroner system. This includes: cross-government liaison on coroner matters; queries and advice to ministers, coroners, local authorities and the public; liaison with coroners and bereavement groups; training for coroners and their staff; supervision of the amalgamation of coroner districts, and other statutory casework.

The Government is committed to strengthening and improving the coroner service. A programme of reform was established in 2003, and proposals presented in a position paper in March 2004. Further plans were announced in February 2006 and a draft coroners bill was published in June 2006.

The draft bill aims to modernise the coroner service by providing a better service for bereaved people. It seeks to do this by creating a good national framework and leadership, while ensuring the service remains firmly grounded locally, and by making sure that investigations and inquests are more effective. The bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Contact us: email or telephone 020 7210 0049 for enquires about the current work of coroners