Sudden Death

Question 1

What is the hierarchy of identity?

Answer 1

1. Visual
2. Fingerprints
3. Odontology
4. Comparison
5. DNA

Question 2

What is the purpose of the coroners inquiry?

Answer 2

To establish the following

• that a person has died
• the persons identity
• when and where the person died
• the causes of death
• the circumstances of the death
• make any comments or recommendations to reduce the chance of death occurring in a similar circumstance in the future

Question 3

What are the two key coroner roles?

Answer 3

• National Duty Coroner

- Responsible Coroner

Question 4

Which deaths must be reported to Police?

Answer 4

• a death without known cause or self inflicted or unnatural or violent
• a death occurred as a result of a medical procedure
• medically unexpected
• death during birth or a result of pregnancy
• a death in official custody
• A death where no doctors certificate

Question 5

Which deaths should be reported to the duty coroner?

Answer 5

A police officer who finds a body or receives a report of a death

Question 6

custody of the body once the death is reported ?

Answer 6

Coroner has right to the body and whether they will take jurisdiction over the death.

Question 7

What does the coroner need before they can release the body to the family ?

Answer 7

VOD and happy it has been adequately established.

Whether to direct post-mortem and this needs to be undertaken

Question 8

What happens after the body is released?

Answer 8

Investigation is assigned over to the responsible coroner.

Question 9

What three path ways does the responsible corner have to conclude the investigation?

Answer 9

Opens an inquiry
Open and conduct investigation conclude without going to court hearing
Open and conduct investigation a formal hearing in coroners court

Question 10

What two things are mandatory when going to a 1S?

Answer 10

Victim support and NIIO

Question 11

When can a body leave police control?

Answer 11

Only once a verification of death has been done

Question 12

What is the hierarchy of identity considerations?

Answer 12

Visual
Fingerprints
Odontology
Comparison identification 
DNA

Question 13

What is the procedure for visual id?

Answer 13

Complete deceased ID form
Take the witness to the body and expose the face let the witness have an hurried look.
Ask do they identify the body? Have they got any doubt? What was their address and how long have you known them for?
Cover the body
If id sign form.

Question 14

What do you need to do if Jon visual identification?

Answer 14

Consult DVI, inform duty Coroner
Arrange body to be photographed need to inform Coroner, investigate dental records, consider building a case for circumstantial id, do a full description of the body, consider DNA

Question 15

What is recorded on a Pol 47?

Answer 15

• observations
• actions
• items seized

Question 16

Who needs to complete a formal written statement?

Answer 16

Every officer who attends, witnesses spoke to at the scene, family member for medical history etc