The Coroners Service Charter (PDF) - Northern Ireland Court ...

THE CORONERS SERVICE CHARTER3IntroductionA coroner’s duty is to investigate deathswhich are reported to the coroner andwhich appear to have happened in suddenor unexplained circumstances. The roleand responsibilities of the coroners and thecircumstances in which deaths are reportedto them are explained in our leaflet, ‘CoronersService for Northern Ireland’ which isavailable from our office and online at www.courtsni.gov.uk. Also available on our websiteis ‘Working with the Coroners Service forNorthern Ireland - Best Practice Guide’.This Coroners Service Charter sets out thestandards of service that bereaved familymembers, witnesses and other properlyinterested persons can expect to receivefrom the Coroners Service in NorthernIreland. This is a Charter for the Service as itis currently structured and operates and it willbe revised as and when required.

THE CORONERS SERVICE CHARTER5• endeavour to update and respond to allqueries arising from interested partiespromptly;• have respect for individual and familyprivacy;• provide a welcoming and safeenvironment;• treat everyone with fairness, respect,dignity and sensitivity;• make reasonable adjustments, wherepossible, to accommodate the needs ofthose with disabilities; and• provide information about how tomake a complaint and fully investigatecomplaints promptly.

8SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICEjournalists are permitted to attend. It alsoprovides information on the opportunities forthe family to participate in the proceedings,including the right to speak and the right tobe represented.Keeping in TouchIf the case goes to inquest, and the coronercontinues his or her investigation followingthe postmortem examination, the Coroner’soffice will contact the appropriate next ofkin initially after four months of the deathand thereafter every three months to updatethem, consult with them and explain theprogress. This will not apply if they haveindicated that they only wish to be contactedwhen there is a specific issue to discuss.The Coroners Service will not normallyrelease any information to the media whichhas not already been made public throughan inquest, without the consent of theappropriate next of kin.

THE CORONERS SERVICE CHARTER11If you are dissatisfied with the servicereceived you should contact the CoronersService in the first instance at:May’s Chambers,73 May Street,Belfast,BT1 3JLemail: coronersoffice@courtsni.gov.ukTelephone: 028 9044 6800Further information on our complaintsprocedure can be found in our ‘Making aComplaint’ leaflet which is available atwww.courtsni.gov.ukIf your complaint relates to the conduct of thecoroner, you should contact:The Complaints Officer,Office of the Lord Chief Justice,Royal Courts of Justice,Chichester Street,Belfast , BT1 3JFemail: judicialcomplaints@courtsni.gov.ukTelephone: 028 9072 4616If your complaint is about a legal decisiontaken by the coroner, you should seekprofessional legal advice.

12 SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICENorthern Ireland Courts and Tribunals ServiceCommunications GroupLaganside House23-27 Oxford StreetBelfast BT1 3LAPhone: 028 9032 8594Fax: 028 9072 8942Textphone: 028 9041 2920Email: communicationsgroup@courtsni.gov.ukWeb: www.courtsni.gov.ukOctober 2012