Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Part 1 Suspension of investigations

Suspension where certain criminal charges may be brought

1 (1) A senior coroner must suspend an investigation under this Part of this Act into a person’s death in the following cases.

(2) The first case is where a prosecuting authority requests the coroner to suspend the investigation on the ground that a person may be charged with—

(a) a homicide offence involving the death of the deceased, or

(b) an offence (other than a service offence) that is alleged to be a related offence.

(3) The second case is where a Provost Marshal or the Director of Service Prosecutions requests the coroner to suspend the investigation on the ground that a person may be charged with—

(a) the service equivalent of a homicide offence involving the death of the deceased, or

(b) a service offence that is alleged to be a related offence.

(4) Subject to paragraphs 2 and 3, a suspension of an investigation under this paragraph must be for—

(a) a period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the suspension first takes effect, or

(b) whatever longer period (beginning with that day) the coroner specifies.

(5) The period referred to in sub-paragraph (4) may be extended or further extended—

(a) in the first case, at the request of the authority by which the suspension was originally requested;

(b) in the second case, at the request of—

(i) the Provost Marshal by whom the suspension was originally requested, or

(ii) the Director of Service Prosecutions.

(6) In this Act—

• “homicide offence” means—

  (a)

  murder, manslaughter, corporate manslaughter or infanticide;

  (b)

  an offence under any of the following provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)—

  (i)

  section 1 (causing death by dangerous driving);

  (ii)

  section 2B (causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving);

  (iii)

  section 3ZB (causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers);

  (iv)

  section 3A (causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs);

  (c)

  an offence under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 (c. 60) (encouraging or assisting suicide);

  (d)

  an offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28) (causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult);

• “related offence” means an offence (including a service offence) that—

  (a)

  involves the death of the deceased, but is not a homicide offence or the service equivalent of a homicide offence, or

  (b)

  involves the death of a person other than the deceased (whether or not it is a homicide offence or the service equivalent of a homicide offence) and is committed in circumstances connected with the death of the deceased;

• “the service equivalent of a homicide offence” means an offence under section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52) (or section 70 of the Army Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 18), section 70 of the Air Force Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 19) or section 42 of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53)) corresponding to a homicide offence.

Suspension where certain criminal proceedings are brought

2 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), a senior coroner must suspend an investigation under this Part of this Act into a person’s death in the following cases.

(2) The first case is where the coroner—

(a) becomes aware that a person has appeared or been brought before a magistrates’ court charged with a homicide offence involving the death of the deceased, or

(b) becomes aware that a person has been charged on an indictment with such an offence without having appeared or been brought before a magistrates’ court charged with it.

(3) The second case is where the coroner becomes aware that a person has been charged with the service equivalent of a homicide offence involving the death of the deceased.

(4) The third case is where a prosecuting authority informs the coroner that a person—

(a) has appeared or been brought before a magistrates’ court charged with an offence (other than a service offence) that is alleged to be a related offence, or

(b) has been charged on an indictment with such an offence without having been sent for trial for it,

and the prosecuting authority requests the coroner to suspend the investigation.

(5) The fourth case is where the Director of Service Prosecutions informs the coroner that a person has been charged with a service offence that is alleged to be a related offence, and the Director requests the coroner to suspend the investigation.

(6) The coroner need not suspend the investigation—

(a) in the first case, if a prosecuting authority informs the coroner that it has no objection to the investigation continuing;

(b) in the second case, if the Director of Service Prosecutions informs the coroner that he or she has no objection to the investigation continuing;

(c) in any case, if the coroner thinks that there is an exceptional reason for not suspending the investigation.

(7) In the case of an investigation that is already suspended under paragraph 1—

(a) a suspension imposed by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) of that paragraph comes to an end if, in reliance of sub-paragraph (6)(a) above, the coroner decides not to suspend the investigation;

(b) a suspension imposed by virtue of sub-paragraph (3) of that paragraph comes to an end if, in reliance on sub-paragraph (6)(b) above, the coroner decides not to suspend the investigation;

(c) a reference above in this paragraph to suspending an investigation is to be read as a reference to continuing the suspension of an investigation;

(d) if the suspension of the investigation is continued under this paragraph, the investigation is to be treated for the purposes of paragraphs 1(4), 7 and 8 of this Schedule as suspended under this paragraph (and not as suspended under paragraph 1).

Suspension pending inquiry under Inquiries Act 2005

3 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), a senior coroner must suspend an investigation under this Part of this Act into a person’s death if—

(a) the Lord Chancellor requests the coroner to do so on the ground that the cause of death is likely to be adequately investigated by an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 (c. 12) that is being or is to be held,

(b) a senior judge has been appointed under that Act as chairman of the inquiry, and

(c) the Lord Chief Justice has indicated approval to the Lord Chancellor, for the purposes of this paragraph, of the appointment of that judge.

In paragraph (b) “senior judge” means a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal or a Justice of the Supreme Court.

(2) The coroner need not suspend the investigation if there appears to be an exceptional reason for not doing so.

(3) In the case of an investigation that is already suspended under paragraph 1—

(a) a reference above in this paragraph to suspending the investigation is to be read as a reference to continuing the suspension of the investigation;

(b) if the suspension of the investigation is continued under this paragraph, the investigation is to be treated for the purposes of paragraphs 1(4), 7 and 9 of this Schedule as suspended under this paragraph (and not as suspended under paragraph 1).

4 (1) This paragraph applies where an investigation is suspended under paragraph 3 on the basis that the cause of death is likely to be adequately investigated by an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 (c. 12).

(2) The terms of reference of the inquiry must be such that it has as its purpose, or among its purposes, the purpose set out in section 5(1) above (read with section 5(2) where applicable); and section 5 of the Inquiries Act 2005 has effect accordingly.

General power to suspend

5 A senior coroner may suspend an investigation under this Part of this Act into a person’s death in any case if it appears to the coroner that it would be appropriate to do so.

Effect of suspension

6 (1) Where an investigation is suspended under this Schedule, the senior coroner must adjourn any inquest that is being held as part of the investigation.

(2) Where an inquest held with a jury is adjourned under this paragraph, the senior coroner may discharge the jury.