The main duty of a Coroner is to enquire into sudden or unexplained deaths. This is usually in the form of a post-mortem examination. The examination is followed by an inquest if the cause of death is not natural.
When a person dies in certain circumstances, their death has to be investigated in a specific way. For example, the death of a person in custody or a death caused by a person's work. The duties and responsibilities of the Coroner have to comply with the Coroners’ Act 1988.
The council appoints Coroners on a part-time basis. Their main responsibilities include:
- Holding inquests.
- Arranging for post mortems to be carried out.
- Employing any other services, such as Funeral Directors, as necessary.
Coroners must have no less than five years experience as one of the following:
- Barrister.
- Solicitor.
- Legally qualified Medical Practitioner.
Coroners’ Officers assist the Coroner. They can be civilians or police officers. They receive reports of deaths and make enquiries on the Coroners’ behalf.
In our area the Coroner is responsible for the joint areas of North and North East Lincolnshire. As such North East Lincolnshire Council appoints the Coroner.
The Coroners' Office is situated in North East Lincolnshire at:
Civic Offices
Knoll Street
Cleethorpes
DN35 8LN.
Telephone: 01472 324020
More information about the work of the Coroner's Office can be found on the Department of Constitutional Affairs website.