We are responsible for the law and policy governing coroners. Coroners are independent judicial officers appointed and paid for by the relevant local authorities who are responsible for investigating violent, unnatural deaths or sudden deaths of unknown cause and deaths in custody that are reported to them.
We also deal with the operation of the current coroner system. This includes: cross-government liaison on coroner matters; queries and advice to ministers, coroners, local authorities and the public; liaison with coroners and bereavement groups; training for coroners and their staff; supervision of the amalgamation of coroner districts, and other statutory casework.
Contact us: email 
or telephone 020 7210 0049 for enquires about the current work of coroners
Coroner reform
The Government is committed to strengthening and improving the coroner service. A programme of reform was established in 2003, and proposals presented in a position paper in March 2004. Further plans were announced in February 2006 and a draft coroners bill was published in June 2006.
The draft bill aims to modernise the coroner service by providing a better service for bereaved people. It seeks to do this by creating a good national framework and leadership, while ensuring the service remains firmly grounded locally, and by making sure that investigations and inquests are more effective. The bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.
A number of policy areas in the Coroners Bill have been revised in response to consultation. A briefing note comparing the proposals in the draft Bill and the revised Bill where significant policy changes have been made was published in March 2008.
We have also published a discussion paper on whether the Press Complaints Commission's code of conduct might be refined to ensure there is appropriate emphasis on the need for sensitive reporting of coroners' cases.
- Draft Coroners Bill and supporting documents
- Discussion paper - sensitive reporting in coroners' courts
Contact us: email or telephone 020 7210 0312 for enquiries about our programme for coroner reform