Inquiries into certain deaths
I11Inquiries under this Act
1
Where an inquiry is to be held into the death of a person in accordance with sections 2 to 7, the procurator fiscal must—
a
investigate the circumstances of the death, and
b
arrange for the inquiry to be held.
2
An inquiry is to be conducted by a sheriff.
3
The purpose of an inquiry is to—
a
establish the circumstances of the death, and
b
consider what steps (if any) might be taken to prevent other deaths in similar circumstances.
4
But it is not the purpose of an inquiry to establish civil or criminal liability.
5
In this Act, unless the context requires otherwise—
a
“inquiry” means an inquiry held, or to be held, under this Act,
b
references to a “sheriff” in relation to an inquiry are to a sheriff of the sheriffdom in which the inquiry is, or is to be, held.