The Coroner's Service
It is the duty of coroners to investigate deaths which are reported to them.
About the Coroner Service
A Coroner is an independent judicial office holder who is required by law to investigate deaths that are unnatural or violent, where the cause of death is unknown, or where the death occurred in prison, police custody or another type of state detention, such as a mental health in-patient facility.
Coroners must be qualified and experienced lawyers who are appointed directly by the Crown. Coroners are completely independent and are not employed by the Local Authority; however, Local Authorities will fund their local Coroner Service.
How the coroner investigates deaths
Coroners investigate deaths to find out who died and how, when, and where they died. This includes determining the medical cause of a person's death. The Coroner will investigate each case referred to them in an appropriate way, which may be as simple as consulting with the doctor who last treated the deceased, or authorising a post-mortem examination.
If a natural cause of death is established, the Coroner's investigation may end; however, in many cases, the final stage of the Coroner's investigation is an Inquest, a public judicial inquiry into a death.
The Coroner's Inquest may explore, uncover and/or record shortcomings by others that have led to a death, but a Coroner cannot apportion blame or find any individual or organisation legally liable for a death. Where relevant, that will be a matter for the criminal or civil courts to decide.
You will find more information about the Coroner role in the Guide to Coroner Services for Bereaved People , which is published by the Ministry of Justice.
The role of Coroner's Officers
Oxfordshire Coroner Service has a team of Coroner's Officers who receive reports of deaths in the community, hospitals, other care settings and state detention and make appropriate inquiries as directed by the Coroner.
Coroner's Officers will liaise with bereaved families, witnesses, police, doctors and funeral directors. Coroner's Officers will be the main link between the Coroner and the deceased person's family or nominated next of kin at all stages of an investigation and inquest.
One Coroner's Officer will be responsible for investigating a death from the initial report through to the end of the Coroner's involvement and will therefore be your single point of contact.
Coroner's decisions
Complaints about a coroner's decision or the outcome of an inquest can only be dealt with via the Judicial Review Process. The Coroner's Office will be able to explain the procedure on request, but cannot give legal advice.
Complaints about the Oxfordshire Coroner’s Service
All complaints about the administration of the Oxfordshire Coroner's Service, the conduct of individual Coroners or their Officers should be raised in the first instance with the Coroner's Service Manager by Contacting the Coroner.
If the service fails to deal with the complaint satisfactorily, you may refer it to:
The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office
81 - 82 Queens Building
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Complaints must be made in writing to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office.