Coroners and Justice Act 2009

45 Coroners rules

(1) Rules may be made in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4)—

(a) for regulating the practice and procedure at or in connection with inquests;

(b) as to the way in which, and the time within which, appeals under section 40(1), (3), (4), (5) or (9) are to be brought;

(c) for regulating the practice and procedure at or in connection with appeals under that section.

Rules under this section are referred to in this Part as “Coroners rules”.

(2) Coroners rules may make—

(a) provision about evidence (including provision requiring evidence to be given on oath except in prescribed cases);

(b) provision for the discharge of a jury (including provision as to the summoning of new juries following discharge);

(c) provision for the discharge of an inquest (including provision as to fresh inquests following discharge);

(d) provision for or in connection with the adjournment or resumption of inquests;

(e) provision for a senior coroner to have power to give a direction, in proceedings at an inquest, allowing or requiring a name or other matter not to be disclosed except to persons specified in the direction;

(f) provision for the delegation by—

(i) a senior coroner, area coroner or assistant coroner, or

(ii) the Coroner for Treasure (or an Assistant Coroner for Treasure),

of any of his or her functions, except for functions that involve making judicial decisions or exercising any judicial discretion;

(g) provision with respect to the disclosure of information;

(h) provision for persons to be excused from service as jurors at inquests in cases specified in the rules;

(i) provision as to the matters to be taken into account by the Coroner for Treasure in deciding whether to hold an inquest concerning an object that is or may be treasure or treasure trove;

(j) provision for requiring permission to be given for the making of an appeal to the Court of Appeal under any provision of this Part.

(3) Coroners rules may make provision conferring power on a senior coroner or the Coroner for Treasure—

(a) to give a direction excluding specified persons from an inquest, or part of an inquest, if the coroner is of the opinion that the interests of national security so require;

(b) to give a direction excluding specified persons from an inquest during the giving of evidence by a witness under the age of 18, if the coroner is of the opinion that doing so would be likely to improve the quality of the witness’s evidence.

In this subsection “specified persons” means persons of a description specified in the direction, or all persons except those of a description specified in the direction.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) are not to be read as limiting the power in subsection (1).

(5) Coroners rules may apply—

(a) any provisions of Coroners regulations;

(b) any provisions of Treasure regulations;

(c) any rules of court that relate to proceedings other than inquests.

(6) Where any provisions or rules are applied by virtue of subsection (5), they may be applied—

(a) to any extent;

(b) with or without modifications;

(c) as amended from time to time.

(7) Practice directions may be given in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4) on any matter that could otherwise be included in Coroners rules.

(8) Coroners rules may, instead of providing for a matter, refer to provision made or to be made by practice directions under subsection (7).

(9) In this section “rules of court” include any provision governing the practice and procedure of a court that is made by or under an enactment.