The Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013

PART 2 Formalities

4.  This Part applies where a coroner is under a duty to hold an inquest under section 6.

Opening of an inquest

5.—(1) An inquest must be opened as soon as reasonably practicable after the date on which the coroner considers that the duty under section 6 applies.

(2) At the opening of the inquest, the coroner must, where possible, set the dates on which any subsequent hearings are scheduled to take place.

Pre-inquest review hearing

6.  A coroner may at any time during the course of an investigation and before an inquest hearing hold a pre-inquest review hearing.

Days on which an inquest may be held

7.  An inquest must be held on a working day, unless the coroner considers that there is an urgent reason for holding it on some other day.

Timing of an inquest

8.  A coroner must complete an inquest within six months of the date on which the coroner is made aware of the death, or as soon as is reasonably practicable after that date.

Notification of inquest hearing arrangements

9.—(1) A coroner must notify the next of kin or personal representative of the deceased of the date, time and place of the inquest hearing within one week of setting the date of the inquest hearing.

(2) A coroner must notify any other interested persons who have made themselves known to the coroner of the date, time and place of the inquest hearing within one week of setting the date of the inquest hearing.

(3) Where an inquest hearing is to be held, the coroner must make details of the date, time and place of the inquest hearing publicly available before the inquest hearing commences.

Coroner to notify interested persons of any alteration of arrangements for an inquest hearing

10.—(1) Where the date, time or place of the inquest hearing is altered the coroner must notify the next of kin or personal representative of the deceased, and any other interested persons who have made themselves known to the coroner, of the alteration within one week of the decision to alter.

(2) The coroner must make the details of any alteration made under paragraph (1) publicly available within one week of the decision to alter.

Inquest hearings to be held in public

11.—(1) A coroner must open an inquest in public.

(2) Where the coroner does not have immediate access to a court room or other appropriate premises, the coroner may open the inquest privately and then announce that the inquest has been opened at the next inquest hearing held in public.

(3) An inquest hearing and any pre-inquest hearing must be held in public unless paragraph (4) or (5) applies.

(4) A coroner may direct that the public be excluded from an inquest hearing, or any part of an inquest hearing if the coroner considers it would be in the interests of national security to do so.

(5) A coroner may direct that the public be excluded from a pre-inquest review hearing if the coroner considers it would be in the interests of justice or national security to do so.