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Charter201000

ISLE OF WIGHT


CORONER’S


SERVICE CHARTER




GENERAL



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. This Charter relates to the Coroner service on the Isle of Wight.

LEGAL POSITION
  1. The Isle of Wight Coroner Service operates within a legal framework. It is the duty of Coroner 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, or in any other case where the Coroner has decided to hold an inquest and to carry out certain related responsibilities.

CONDUCT
  1. Isle of Wight Coroners and their 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.
  1. Duties will be discharged impartially, with a view to ascertaining the facts surrounding a death for the purpose of the Coroner’s statutory responsibilities.
  1. 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 person has a proper interest.

CORRESPONDENCE
  1. Written enquiries to the Coroner will normally receive reply within 10 working days of receipt. If the matter cannot be resolved within that time, an acknowledgment will be issued within five working days with an estimate of when a substantive reply will be sent.







CONTACT AND ENQUIRY POINTS
  1. The Isle of Wight Coroner’s Office is situated at 3/9 Quay Street, Newport, Isle of Wight. The Office is open from 08.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Thursday and from 08.30 am to 4.00 pm Friday unless the Coroner’s Officer is away on his duties. The telephone number is (01983) 520697 or fax (01983) 527678. Out of office hours or times when the Office is not manned, contact can be made through the Hampshire Police switchboard, tel: 08450 – 454545
  1. Court hearings are normally held at the Coroner’s Court 3/9 Quay Street, Newport. The Court has toilets, refreshments and a waiting area, but no special arrangements for the disabled. Those wishing to attend court who have any special requirements (including for example translating or interpreting services) are requested to contact the Coroner’s Officer in advance.
  1. A map giving directions to the location of the Courts Coroner’s Office is contained in a leaflet sent out by the Coroner’s Office to all persons attending Court. Location of the Coroner’s Court is signposted on the building itself.
  1. Coroners and their staff will identify themselves by name in their dealings with members of the public. Deputy and Assistant Deputy Coroner’s act when the Coroner is not available. In doing so, they exercise the full powers of the Coroner.


INQUIRIES NOT REQUIRING AN INQUEST
  1. 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 five working days of the completion of the coroner’s enquiries.


BEFORE THE INQUEST

Interviews
  1. If the Coroner or his staff need to interview someone about a death, the aim will be to do so if possible, on one occasion, at a time and place convenient to the person concerned. If a 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 available to the person who made it, at least five working days in advance of the hearing (unless the Coroner has good reason not to release it).




POST MORTEMS
  1. When the Coroner decides that a post mortem is necessary, wherever possible, the immediate next of Kin whose details are Known will be given:
An explanation why a post mortem is necessary and what is involved, if requested; Advance notice of the arrangements, so that they may be represented (by a Doctor) if they wish (but post mortem examinations must be normally undertaken as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours of discovery of the death) except at weekends or public holidays. Notice may not always be practicable; a copy of the post mortem report will be sent to their own doctor.



ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS
  1. The formal opening of the Inquest to take evidence of identity and the medical cause of death will generally take place within two days of the report of the death and at this point the body will normally be released for funeral arrangements. No attendance is normally required at this stage of the Inquest. The Coroner will notify those asked to attend an Inquest at least ten working days in advance of the hearing.



The Coroner will also provide-

  1. The telephone number of his office and a named contact for enquiries.
  2. A leaflet explaining the purpose and procedures of inquests.
  3. Information explaining the right for those who express a wish to do so to attend an inquest as an observer beforehand.
  4. Information to explain to those called as a witness or juror how to claim for travelling and subsistence expenses and for financial loss allowances.
  5. Advice on the alternative methods for swearing evidence so as to accord with specific religious beliefs.
  6. Information explaining the availability of the Coroner’s Inquest Service to assist any person attending an Inquest if so required.








TIMING
  1. The Coroner will endeavour to hold any necessary Inquest at the earliest possible date. Most Inquests in the Isle of Wight take place within six 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, unless the inquest has been formally adjourned to a specific date.



RELEASE OF THE BODY
  1. The Coroner will release the body of the deceased for the funeral at the earliest opportunity, normally within three days. Where there are uncertainties as to the cause of death, or where the death is suspicious or where an Inquest is going to be held, it may be necessary to retain the body longer for further investigation. The Coroner will ensure that relatives are advised of potential delays and reasons for them.



DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
  1. The coroner will, on request and at his discretion, provide to interested persons not less than ten working days in advance of the Inquest copies of the post mortem report, for which payment may be required except that in the case of lay persons the post mortem report will be sent to their doctor



JURORS
  1. For Jurors the Coroner will:
Send a leaflet explaining the duties of a Juror at an Inquest and providing other relevant information ten days beforehand;
Provide an indication in advance of how long the jury service will last.




AFTER THE INQUEST
  1. On the conclusion of the inquest, the next of kin will be given an explanation about how, where and when a copy of the death certificate may be obtained.
  1. 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 20 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 five days of its receipt.
  1. 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 ten 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.
  1. The Coroner will also supply, for the prescribed fee, a copy of his notes of evidence, but this may take up to six weeks to provide. In all cases an estimate of the fee will be given on application.
  1. The Coroner will pay witness and juror expenses claims promptly and within ten working days of receipt of properly completed applications.

APPLICATIONS FOR PERMISSION TO REMOVE A BODY ABROAD
  1. The Coroner will make every effort to complete his enquiries and decide such applications within five days of receipt of notice expecting weekends and public holidays.



TREASURE INQUESTS
  1. Coroners have responsibility for enquiries into treasure finds. Information leaflets about treasure are available from the County Archaeologist, 61 Clatterford Road, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight. PO30 1NZ (01983) 823810. The Finds Liaison Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme is Mr. Frank Basford.




FEEDBACK AND COMPLAINTS
  1. Coroners will not normally enter into correspondence about the cases they have completed, but comments and suggestions on improving the Coroner Service will be considered. Please contact the Coroner’s Office at the address given before. 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.
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.
All Complaints about the administration of the Isle of Wight Coroner Service or the conduct of individual Coroner’s or their staff should be raised in the first instance with the Coroner concerned by writing to him at 3/9 Quay Street, Newport, Isle of Wight. PO30 5BB. The Coroner will reply to such complaints in accordance with the timescale set out.
If the Coroner fails to deal with the complaint satisfactorily, the complainant may refer it to The Coroners Unit, Ministry of Justice, Post point 3.21, 102 Petty France, London. SW1H 9AJ Tel: 0203 3346409 .
Email [email protected] The Ministry of Justice 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.




FURTHER INFORMATION

  1. Further copies of this charter may be obtained from the Coroner’s Office and as a down load on the Isle of Wight Council’s Web site. General information is contained in the Home Office leaflet “A guide to Coroners and Inquests”
  1. This Charter was issued on the 4th August 2010. It will be reviewed on the 4th August 2011.



Signed _________________________
J.A.Matthews – HM Coroner



Page last updated on: 05/08/2010