Duties of a coroner
The duties are to:
- investigate circumstances of deaths if violent, unnatural or unknown cause
- decide whether a Post Mortem examination is necessary
- hold an inquest and notify the Registrar of Deaths of the findings
Senior Coroner for the Bedfordshire and Luton area
The Senior Coroner for the Bedfordshire and Luton area is Emma Whitting.
Assistant Coroners for the Bedfordshire and Luton area
The Assistant Coroners are:
- Dr Sean Cummings
- Tom Stoate
- Sophie Lomas
- Kelly Dixon
- Saoirse Townshend
If you're dissatisfied with the outcome of an inquest
There are 2 methods by which the coroner’s decision can be challenged, but the grounds for doing so are complex and advice should be sought from a lawyer with expertise in this area of the law.
One method is an application to the High Court for judicial review of a decision, but this must normally be done within 3 months of completion of the inquest.
Another method involves a separate power under section 13 of the Coroner’s Act 1988. Under this, the Attorney-General may initiate an application to the High Court for an inquest to be held if a coroner has neglected or refused to hold one, or for another inquest to be held on the grounds that it is necessary or desirable.
Once a coroner has reached a conclusion at the end of an inquest the coroner is functus officio; this means the coroner ceases to have any further jurisdiction in the case and cannot re-open it, re-hear it or amend the conclusion. Anyone wishing to challenge the conclusion must do so by one of the above methods.