The Coroners Act 2006

Question 1

SCUMBIE

Answer 1

S = Sucide.
C = Cause unknown.
U = Unnatural or violent.
M = Medical, dental etc. 
B = Birth or pregnancy.
I = Institutional (police custody, prison, mental hospital etc)
E = Enactment requires holding an inquest.

Question 2

Coroner must hold inquests in to the following Deaths -

Answer 2

Suicide
Any institutional deaths
Any death to which the Coroner is not satisfied that the cause of death has been clearly established.

Question 3

The Coroners Act 2006 Section 15

Answer 3

Police have duty to report deaths to the Coroner immediately

Question 4

The Coroners Act 2006 Section 33

Answer 4

The Coroner has authority over who attends a post-mortem.

Question 5

The facts that need to be established at an inquest.

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

The purpose of an inquiry

Answer 6

The purpose of an inquiry is to:
Establish, so far as possible:
That a person has died
the persons identity
When and where the person died
The causes of the death, and
The circumstances of the death.

• Make recommendations or comments that, in the Coroner’s opinion, may, if drawn to public attention, reduce the chances of other deaths occurring in circumstances similar to those in which the death occurred.
• Determine whether the public interest would be served by the death being investigated by other investigating authorities, and refer the death to them if satisfied that the public interest would be served.

Question 7

Functions under the

Answer 7

• To decide whether to direct a post-mortem and, if one is directed, to determine whether to authorise certain people (other than the pathologist) to attend.
• To authorise the release of the body (including determining, if a post-mortem has been directed, whether the pathologist wishes and is permitted, on the release of the body, to retain body parts or bodily samples); and
• To decide whether to open an inquiry (and, if one is to be conducted, whether an inquest should be held)

Question 8

Three people informed about a sudden death.

Answer 8

Relatives
Coroner / NIIO
COMMS

Question 9

Documentation required

Answer 9

POL258
POL 47
COR31
POL265A
POL268
Statements:
Last saw alive
found deceased
Who can provide relevant background/history of deceased.