Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Section 22

Schedule 2 Coroner areas

Coroner areas

1 (1) England and Wales is to be divided into areas to be known as coroner areas.

(2) Each coroner area is to consist of the area of a local authority or the combined areas of two or more local authorities.

(3) Subject to paragraph 2—

(a) the coroner areas are to be those specified in an order made by the Lord Chancellor;

(b) each coroner area is to be known by whatever name is specified in the order.

(4) Before making an order under this paragraph, the Lord Chancellor must consult—

(a) every local authority,

(b) the Welsh Ministers, and

(c) any other persons the Lord Chancellor thinks appropriate.

Alteration of coroner areas

2 (1) The Lord Chancellor may make orders altering coroner areas.

(2) Before making an order under this paragraph the Lord Chancellor must consult—

(a) whichever local authorities the Lord Chancellor thinks appropriate,

(b) in the case of a coroner area in Wales, the Welsh Ministers, and

(c) any other persons the Lord Chancellor thinks appropriate.

(3) “Altering”, in relation to a coroner area, includes (as well as changing its boundaries)—

(a) combining it with one or more other coroner areas;

(b) dividing it between two or more other coroner areas;

(c) changing its name.

Relevant authorities

3 (1) This paragraph sets out for the purposes of this Part what is the “relevant authority” for a given coroner area.

(2) In the case of a coroner area consisting of the area of a single local authority, that authority is the relevant authority for the coroner area.

(3) In the case of a coroner area consisting of the areas of two or more local authorities, the relevant authority for the coroner area is—

(a) whichever one of those authorities they jointly nominate;

(b) if they cannot agree on a nomination, whichever one of them the Lord Chancellor determines.

(4) Before making a determination under sub-paragraph (3)(b) the Lord Chancellor must consult—

(a) the Secretary of State, in a case involving local authorities in England;

(b) the Welsh Ministers, in a case involving local authorities in Wales.

(5) This paragraph has effect subject to paragraph 2 of Schedule 22.

Effect of body being outside coroner area etc

4 (1) This paragraph applies where—

(a) a senior coroner is responsible for conducting an investigation under this Part into a person’s death, and

(b) the body is outside the coroner’s area (whether because of its removal or otherwise).

(2) The coroner has the same functions in relation to the body and the investigation as would be the case if the body were within the coroner’s area.

(3) The presence of the body at a place outside the coroner’s area does not confer any functions on any other coroner.