The Coroner

Coroners must be solicitors, barristers or doctors of at least 5 years standing. The majority of Coroners however are Solicitors. Coroners are appointed by a special committee of the Local Authority subject to the approval of the Lord Chancellor but are independent judicial officers – this means that no-one else can tell them or direct them as to what they should do, although they must abide by laws and regulations. The office of Coroner dates back to 1194 but their duties and responsibilities are now governed in the main by the Coroner Act 1988. The Coroner’s Rules can be obtained from H.M.S.O. (S.I. No 552 1984). The Acts of Parliament which govern the duties of the coroner are ‘The Coroner’s Acts of 1844, 1881, 1892, 1926, 1954, 1980 & 1988. Coroners may only be removed from office by the Lord Chancellor.

The Coroner appointed for the Isle of Wight since July 2012 is Mrs Caroline Sumeray. This position is part time.

The Coroner has two deputies who have the same powers as the Coroner. Her Deputy is Mr. Hugh Calloway and the Assistant Deputy Coroner is Mr John Matthews. Mr Calloway is a full time solicitor and Mr Matthews was the former Coroner, retiring at the end of May 2012.

The Coroner is helped by one full time officer who is a former police officer, who receives and processes the death reports and make enquiries on his behalf. The Coroner’s Officer will happily answer any questions that concerned parties have about a death and the administrative process involved, but when the Coroners Office is closed, Police Officers act on the Coroner’s behalf. The Coroner’s Officer is assisted by two part time officers.