OF16 - Coroner's Act, Sudden Death and Missing Person Flashcards
What does SCUMBIE stand for?
Suicide, Cause unknown or no Doctors Certificate, Unnatural or violent death, Medical misadventure, Birth deaths or death from pregnancy, Institutional deaths, Enactment requiring inquest
15
CA 15: Duty to report death immediately to coroner
33
CA 33: Coroner has authority over who is present during post-mortem. IF coroner thinks post mortem necessary then will advise Next of Kin. Immediate familiy may have a right to object to post mortem being carried out
What are the three purposes of a coroner’s inquest?
first purpose = fact person died, identity, cause, where and when, circumstance
second purpose = coroners opinion to reduce chance of similar death
third purpose = determine whether public interest would be served by investigating
What kind of deaths MUST a Coroner do an inquest for?
Suicide, institutional, or where coroner is not satisfied that the cause/circumstances have been clearly established
When must you contact the Coroner?
While you are at the scene of someone who has SCUMBIE died, can ring the NIIO
How is the fact that a person has died documented?
Deceased Person Certificate (POL 265)
How is the identity of the deceased documented?
Deceased Person Identification Form (POL 265A)
How is the cause of death documented?
Pathologist’s Report
How is where and when the death occurred documented?
POL 47 or 47A
How are the circumstances of the death documented?
Statements
Job sheets
Depositions
Is a Coroner’s Inquest a criminal inquiry?
A coroner’s inquiry is an investigation into the facts, causes and circumstances of the death. It is not to determine civil, criminal or disciplinary liability.
What will the Coroner consider when deciding whether to hold an inquiry?
a) whether or not the causes of the death concerned appear to have been natural; and
b) in the case of a death that appears to have been unnatural or violent, whether or not it appears to have been due to the actions or inaction of any other person; and
c) the existence and extent of any allegations, rumours, suspicions, or public concern, about the death; and
d) the extent to which the drawing of attention to the circumstances of the death may be likely to reduce the chances of the occurrence of other deaths in similar circumstances; and
e) the desire of any members of the immediate family of the person who is or appears to be the person concerned that any inquiry should be conducted; and
f) any other matters the coroner thinks fit.
NUFRIP
If a medical certificate as to cause of death has be issued, does the coroner need to be advised?
No
Who must you notify when someone dies?
NOK
Coroner (unless medical certificate is issued)
Supervisor
Section 11 makes it a police responsibility to notify relatives when someone has died.
When must you notify the relative and how should it be made?
Immediately and in person.
Definition of a missing person?
“Any person who is reported missing to police
AND
Whose whereabouts are unknown. AND
There are fears for the safety, or concerns for the welfare of that person.”
What are the three fears for safety?
Age, Zones of Safety and Circumstances.
What does ‘Zones of Safety’ mean?
Fears arise when the person is outside of their usual
surroundings and is unable to cope, e.g., they may have a mental or
physical disability
What are some concerns for welfare?
Age, circumstance, influences
What are the four categories of 2Ms
- voluntary
- involuntary
- lost due to event
- missing overseas.
Who can report someone missing?
Any person can report another person as missing. The person making the report need not be a relative of the missing person.
What is essential to establish about a 2M?
It is essential that you establish:
• whether there are fears for the person’s safety
• if so, why?
Do Police help find a 2M who of which there are no serious fears for their safety?
Police do NOT provide a family tracing service. If a person is trying to
locate a family member or relative who has not made contact for a period of
time, and no serious fears for the safety or welfare of the person, apart from
the loss of contact, the matter should be referred to the Salvation Army
Family Tracing Service.
What key thing must you do when a missing person has been found?
Remove the alert in NIA.
What are the four stages of grief?
Numbness
Pining (longing for something)
Depression
Gaining a new identity
What do you do with the 2M case after the following time periods?
3 days
14 days
30 days
90 days
A year
Contact CIB
Contact informant, establish if any new fears for 2M, forward file to O/C CIB for review.
Contact informant, establish if any new fears for 2M, consider media release, description/photo in NIA, forward the file to O/C CIB for review.
Consider further media releases, consider banking and telephone records AND forensic evidence, update NIA, forward to O/C CIB for review
Contact the informant and discuss case, consider advising Coroner, ensure all records (DNA, medical, etc) have been obtained, DNA samples sent to ESR, Forward file to O/C CIB for review, if no further enquires file can be inactivated at district FMC
