NCJ Number
176684
Date Published
1998
Length
50 pages
Annotation
This book reports on a survey of the British Coroner Service.
Abstract
Responsibility for the operation of the Coroner Service is shared among HM Coroners, local authorities, the police service, and central government departments. The survey attempted to obtain a detailed and current picture of the 148 coroners' services with respect to organization, staffing, resources, and costs. The survey revealed: (1) a considerable demand for additional training, including courses to be held on week days; (2) some concerns about the provision and responsibility for coroners' officers; (3) the difficulty of financial management by the local authority where fees were fixed by the Home Office or determined by the coroner; (4) a desire for more discretion in holding an inquest; (5) concerns about the remuneration and status of coroners; and (6) some debate about where responsibility for the coroner service should lie. Tables, notes, references, bibliography