Coroner Charter

Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Coroner Service Charter

Standards of performance and customer care

Coroner Services: pembscarmscoroner@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Application

This Charter tells you what standards of performance are to be expected from the Coroner Service, and what to do if something goes wrong. This Charter relates to the Coroner Service for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire jurisdiction.

Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Coroner Service best practice standards

We will treat the bereaved and members of the public with consideration during the investigation process and inquest hearings. We will make available to the bereaved and the general public up to date and accurate information about the service we provide and how it can be accessed.
We will investigate all sudden deaths, effectively, efficiently and impartially in accordance with the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. We will keep accurate up to date and understandable records of investigations and inquests. We will protect the confidentiality of information as far as possible within a system based on public court hearings. We will prepare for and respond effectively to major incidents.
We will hold inquest hearings at an appropriate venue, and the hearing will be held in accordance with the Coroner and Justice Act 2009. We will carry out enquiries in accordance with the Treasure Act 1996.
We will work in partnership with organisations, agencies and contractors in order to secure provision of the appropriate response to and investigation of sudden deaths.
We will ensure that we will have enough investigative and administrative staff who are competent, knowledgeable, trained, supported to carry out the job effectively and efficiently.
We will robustly assure and improve the quality of our work by monitoring, auditing, and reviewing our services, and through learning from the views, comments, compliments and complaints of the bereaved and other stakeholders.

Legal position

The Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Coroner Service operates within a legal framework and complies with the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. It is the duty of Coroners to investigate deaths which are reported to them and where it appears that the deceased died a violent or unnatural death, the cause of death is unknown or the deceased died while in custody or state detention.

The coroner carries out certain related responsibilities and also investigates finds of possible treasure. In the jurisdiction of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire one senior coroner is supported by two Assistant Coroners.

Conduct

Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Coroners and Coroner Service staff will treat the bereaved and other members of the public courteously and sympathetically at all times, and will have regard, within the constraints of their statutory duties, to the deceased’s religious faith and cultural traditions.

Duties will be discharged impartially, with a view to ascertaining the facts surrounding a death for the purpose of the coroner’s statutory responsibilities.

Confidentiality will be preserved as far as possible within a system based on public court hearings. Explanations for the procedures adopted in particular cases will be given on request, where the coroner is satisfied that the person has a proper interest.

Correspondance

Written enquiries to the Coroner Service will normally receive a reply within ten working days of receipt. If the matter cannot be resolved within that time, an acknowledgement will be issued within five working days with an estimate of when a substantive reply will be sent.

Contact and enquiry points

The Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Coroner Service is at:

North Wing, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire

The office is open Monday to Friday from 9.00am until 4.00pm.

The telephone numbers are as follows:

General Enquiries 01437 775134, 01437 775001, 01437 775147, 01437 776679, alternatively via email to:

pembscarmscoroner@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Inquests are usually held at either County Hall, Haverfordwest or Llanelli Town Hall, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. In appropriate circumstances inquests may take place at an alternative venue. Those who are required to attend an inquest, or wish to do so, and have special needs are asked to contact the Coroner’s Office in advance.

Details of forthcoming inquests

Coroners and Coroner Service Staff will identify themselves by name in their dealings with members of the public. Assistant Coroners act when the Senior Coroner is not available. In doing so, they exercise the full powers of the Coroner.

Inquiries not requiring an inquest

If a death is referred which does not need to be the subject of an inquest, the coroner will either liaise with the Medical Examiner via a CN1a form or after a Postmortem has been carried out but there is a clear cause of death, the coroner will send the relevant Registrar a CN2 form so that the death may be registered.

Postmortems

When the Coroner decides that a postmortem – (autopsy) is necessary, wherever possible, the immediate next of kin, whose details are known, will be:

Given an explanation as to why a postmortem is necessary and what will be involved
After the postmortem has taken place, the Coroners’ Officer will contact the Next of Kin to explain the results and the next steps.

Release of the body

The coroner will release the body of the deceased for the funeral at the earliest opportunity. Where there is uncertainty as to the cause of death, or where the death is suspicious, it may be necessary to retain the body longer for further investigation.

The coroner will ensure that relatives are advised of potential delays and the reasons for them.

Deaths requiring an inquest

The investigation

Once the Coroner has opened an investigation, statements will be requested from relevant witnesses, this may include members of the family.

Our process can take some time but members of the family will be kept updated as to the progress of our investigation.

Members of the family can be provided with a copy of the postmortem report on written request and other relevant documents.

Members of the family will be informed that any retention of body tissue samples will be conducted in accordance with the Human Tissue Act 2004. (Full details are available from the Coroner’s Office).

The Inquest

The coroner will notify those who wish to attend an inquest of:

The date and time of the hearing(s). Please note that the formal opening of the inquest, for taking evidence of identity and the medical cause of death, will generally take place as soon as the coroner has received the pathologist’s initial postmortem findings.

For details of the location and facilities of the court where the inquest will be held please visit Inquests

Witnesses and Jurors

The Coroner Service will:

Explain to those called as a witness or jurors how to claim for travel and subsistence expenses and for financial loss allowances within the permitted limits.
Ascertain any preference for swearing evidence (e.g. in accordance with specified religious beliefs or on affirmation).
Ascertain any special requirements for people who have special needs.

Timing

The coroner will endeavour to hold inquests as soon as possible. All inquest files are reviewed by the coroner on a regular basis to ensure that the investigation is progressing appropriately.

However, there may be factors outside the coroner’s control, which can cause delay. Where the inquest is likely to be delayed, the coroner will notify interested persons on a regular basis of the reason and the up to date position, unless the inquest has been formally adjourned to a specific date.

Details of forthcoming inquests

Disclosure of information

The coroner will, on request and at his discretion, provide to interested persons copies of the postmortem and other relevant evidence in advance of the inquest.

Jurors

For jurors, the coroner will:

Liaise with them regarding timings, venue, parking and lunch provisions.
Provide an indication in advance of how long the jury service will last.

After the inquest

On the conclusion of the inquest, the next of kin will be given information about how a death certificate may be obtained.

If the coroner’s duty under Regulation 28 (Prevention of Future Deaths) has been engaged, Interested Parties are entitled to a copy of the report and a reply on request.

The coroner may provide any document to any person who in the opinion of the coroner is a proper person to have possession of it. There may be a charge for providing the documents.

The proceedings at an inquest are digitally recorded. The coroner will supply to a properly interested person, on written request copies of the recording via a secure portal on which the proceedings have been recorded.

The Coroner Service will process witness and juror expenses claims promptly and within ten working days of receipt of properly completed applications.

Applications for permission to remove a body out of England and Wales

The coroner will make every effort to complete his enquiries and decide such applications within four working days of receipt of notice.

Support organisations

The Coroner Service has information and contact details for many support and counselling organisations. The Coroner’s Officer in the case at the inquest will assist in accessing this information.

Treasure inquests

Coroners have responsibility for enquiries into treasure finds. All enquiries into treasure are to be directed to the pembscarmscoroner@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Feedback

Coroners will not normally enter into correspondence about the cases they have completed, but comments and suggestions on improving the Coroner Service are always welcomed.

To leave feedback about the service you received after attending an inquest, please write to:

Coroner Service

North Wing

County Hall

Haverfordwest

Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP

Alternatively, you can contact the Coroner Service by emailing us at: pembscarmscoroner@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Complaints

The aim of the Coroner Service is to provide a service of excellence so that everyone should be dealt with speedily and courteously.

Complaints about a Coroner’s decision or the outcome of an inquest can only be dealt with through the High Court. The Coroner’s Office will be able to explain the procedures on request but cannot give legal advice.

All complaints about the conduct of individual Coroners should be raised in the first instance with the coroner concerned by writing to Coroner Service, North Wing, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP.

The coroner will reply within ten working days.

All complaints about the administration of the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Coroner Service or the conduct of Coroner’s Officers should be raised in the first instance with the Head of Coroner Service by emailing us at pembscarmscoroner@pembrokeshire.gov.uk.

Or by writing to The Coroner Service, Coroner Service, North Wing, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP. A reply will be sent within ten working days.

Coroner's Office