Section 5(2) of the Coroners Act 1988 provides that a coroner must hold inquests within his or her district. The Act is silent on relocation and closure of coroners’ courts and there is no other primary or secondary legislation which deals specifically with the location, relocation, or closure of coroners’ courts. The location of the inquest hearing within his or her district is a matter for the coroner and will be subject to the availability of suitable accommodation. I have not received any recent representations on the location of coroners’ courts. However, from time to time my Department receives representations on problems with the availability of accommodation for inquests. On these occasions, my officials liaise with the coroner, the local authority and, when appropriate, the local court administration to help find a suitable solution.
(2) how many coroners’ courts have been closed in each of the last five years; and what the reason for closure is in each case;
(3) how many coroners’ courts have been relocated in each of the last five years; and what the reason for relocation was in each case.
My Department has no direct responsibilities for the location or relocation of coroners’ courts. Under Section 5(2) of the Coroners Act 1988 a coroner must hold inquests within his or her district. Approximately 30 per cent. of coroners have dedicated court facilities provided to them by their local authority. The remainder use other accommodation including court rooms in magistrates courts on a sharing basis, or accommodation provided by the local authority such as council chambers. Coroners will often use more than one building for holding their inquests, subject to availability and the specific requirements of the inquest. All arrangements for coroners’ court accommodation are made locally and information about the closure and relocation of coroners’ courts is not held centrally.