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Coroner
Charter |
| General |
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| Application |
| 1. |
This Charter tells you
what standards of performance are to be expected in the coroner
service, and what to do if something goes wrong.
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| Legal Position |
| 2. |
The Coroner Service in Pembrokeshire operates within a legal
framework. It is the duty of coroners to investigate deaths
which are reported to them and which appear to be due to violence
or are unnatural, or are sudden and of unknown cause, or which
occur in legal custody, and to carry our certain related responsibilities.
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| Conduct |
| 3. |
The Pembrokeshire Coroner and his 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
the statutory duties, to the deceased's religious faith and
cultural traditions.
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| 4. |
Duties will be discharged
impartially, with a view to ascertaining the facts surrounding
a death for the purpose of the coroner's statutory responsibilities. |
| 5. |
Confidentially 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. |
| Correspondence |
| 6. |
Written enquiries to the
coroner will normally receive a reply within 10 working days
of receipt. If the matter cannot be resolved within that time,
an acknowledgement will be issued within 5 working days with
an estimate of when a substantive reply will be sent. |
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| Inquiries not requiring
an inquest |
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| 7. |
If a death is reported which
does not need to be the subject of an inquest a certificate
giving the cause of death will be sent to the registrar of deaths
within 5 working days of the completion of the coroner's enquiries. |
| Before the Inquest |
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| Interviews |
| 8. |
If the coroner or his officer
or staff need to interview someone about a death, the aim will
be to do so no more than once, at a time and place convenient
to the person concerned. If the person wishes, they may be accompanied
during the interview by a relative, friend or other person.
Every effort will be made to avoid causing any additional distress
to close friends or relatives of the deceased. A copy of any
statement to be used at the inquest will be provided to the
person who made it, on request, at least 5 working days in advance
of the hearing (unless the coroner has good reason not to release
it). |
| Post Mortems |
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When the coroner decides
that a post mortem is necessary, wherever possible, the immediate
next of kin whose details are known, will be given: |
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If requested, an explanation why a post mortem is necessary
and what is involved; |
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Advance notice of the arrangements, so that they may be represented
(by a doctor) if they wish (but post mortem examinations must
normally be undertaken as soon as possible, usually within 24
hours of the discovery of the death). Notice may not always
be practicable; |
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If requested, a copy of the post mortem report. |
| Administrative arrangements |
| 9. |
The coroner will notify
those asked to attend an inquest: |
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The date and time of each hearing (if more than one)
at least 8 working days in advance (but note that the formal
opening of the inquest - for taking evidence of identity and
the medical cause of death - will generally take place within
2 days of the report of the death, at which point the body will
normally be released); |
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details of the location of the court where the inquest
will be held; |
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details of the telephone
number for enquiries;
and will:
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provide a leaflet explaining the purpose and procedures
of inquests; |
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advise those who express a wish to do so that they may
attend an inquest as an observer beforehand; |
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explain to those called as a witness or juror how to
claim for travel and subsistence expenses and for financial
loss allowances; |
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ascertain any preference for swearing evidence (eg in
accordance with specified religious beliefs, or on affirmation) |
| Timing |
| 10. |
The coroner will endeavour
to hold any necessary inquest at the earliest possible date.
Most inquests in Pembrokeshire take place within 6 months of
the death. 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 of the
position, including the reasons for any continuing delay, on
a regular basis, unless the inquest had been formally adjourned
to a specific date. |
| Release of the body |
| 11. |
The coroner will release
the body of the deceased for the funeral at the earliest opportunity,
normally within 3 days. Where there are uncertainties 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. |
| Disclosure of information |
| 12. |
The coroner will, on request
and at his discretion, provide to interested persons not less
than 8 working days in advance of the inquest, copies of the
post mortem report for which payment may be required. |
| Jurors |
| 13. |
For jurors, the coroner will: |
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send a leaflet explaining the duties of a juror at an inquest,
and providing other relevant information, 10 days beforehand; |
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provide an indication in advance of how long the jury service
will last. |
| After the inquest |
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| 14. |
On the conclusion of the
inquest, the next of kin will be provided with a written explanation
about how, where and when a copy of the death certificate may
be obtained. |
| 15. |
If, in the interests of preventing
further fatalities, the coroner decides to report the matter
to a relevant person or authority, he will do so within 15 working
days of the inquest outcome. He will also send copies of his
letter to all the interested persons. A copy of any subsequent
reply will be sent within 5 days of its receipt. |
| 16. |
The coroner will supply to
an interested person, on application, a copy of the inquest
verdict (although this is reproduced on the death certificate),
or any of the documents produced in evidence, within 10 working
days of receipt of the prescribed fee (which will vary according
to the number and size of the documents to be copied). An estimate
of the fee will be provided in advance if requested. |
| 17. |
The coroner will also supply
for the prescribed fee, a copy of his notes of evidence, but
this may take up to 8 weeks to provide. In all cases, an estimate
of the fee will be given on application. |
| 18. |
The coroner/local authority
will pay witness and juror expenses claims promptly and within
15 working days of receipt of properly completed applications. |
| Applications for
permission to remove a body abroad |
| 19. |
The coroner will make every
effort to complete his enquiries and decide such applications
within 5 days of receipt of notice. |
| Treasure Inquests |
| 20. |
Coroners have responsibility
for enquiries into treasure finds. Information leaflets about
treasure are available from the coroner's office. |
| Feedback and complaints |
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| 21. |
Coroners will not normally
enter into correspondence about the cases they have completed,
but comments and suggestions on improving the coroner service
are always welcome. Please contact the coroner's office at the
address given above. The aim of the coroner service is to provide
a service of excellence so that you should have no cause for
complaint, but if you do, the complaint will be dealt with speedily
and courteously. |
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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 procedure on request, but
cannot give legal advice. |
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All complaints about the administration of the Pembrokeshire
coroner service, or the conduct of individual coroners or their
staff, should be raised in the first instance with the coroner
by writing to him or telephoning him at the contact point given
in paragraph 7. The coroner will reply to such complaints in
accordance with the timescales set out above. |
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If the coroner fails to deal with the complaint satisfactorily,
the complainant may refer it to the Home Office (Coroners Section),
Room 972, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT. Tel: 0207 273
2888/3574). The Home Office has no disciplinary powers or power
to award compensation but may, in appropriate cases, refer the
complaint to the Lord Chancellor who is responsible for the
discipline of coroners. |
| Performance |
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| 22. |
The coroner's and Council's
performance will be monitored regularly against the standards
detailed in this document. |
| Further Information |
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| 23. |
Further copies of this charter
may be obtained from the coroner's office. General information
is contained in the Home Office leaflet 'The Work of the Coroner',
also available from the coroner's office. |
| 24. |
Copies of this charter in
Welsh are available from the coroner's office. |
| 25. |
This charter was first issued
on 01-08-02 and will be reviewed annually. |
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