Law and Rights
Taken overall, the reforms relating to Coroners and Inquests in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 were well-received. A key element of the reforms was that there should be a Chief Coroner for England and Wales. Judge Peter Thornton QC was appointed to the post. Then along came the plans for a "Bonfire of the Quangos" and the Ministry of Justice decided to abolish the post before it even got going. The Ministry's move was extremely unpopular and unwelcome in some quarters - see, for example, INQUEST. Now, the House of Lords has voted to keep the post. This was by a vote of 277 to 165. Reform in this area is vital and a Chief Coroner would provide the essential leadership needed to ensure that the reforms are introduced properly. The Chief Coroner would also provide a degree of independence from the executive for the Coronial service as a whole.
The Bill commenced its Parliamentary progress in the House of Lords and must therefore yet go before the House of Commons. It is to be hoped that they accept this Lords amendment.
Earlier posts: Bonfire of the Quangos
The Quango cull - Sir Philip Green's "efficiency" report
- Hillsborough Inquests Underway
Goldring LJThe April 1989 Hillsborough Disaster Inquests began today (31st March). The initial inquests were never seen as satisfactory by the families of the deceased and fresh inquests were ordered by the High Court in December 2012. The new inquests...
- Hillsborough Disaster ~ New Inquest To Be Held
Update: The judgment of the court quashing all the inquest verdicts - Her Majesty' Attorney-General v HM Coroner for South Yorkshire (West) and HM Coroner for West Yorkshire (West) [2012] EWHC 3783 Admin - Lord Judge LCJ, Burnett...
- Coroners - Chief Coroner And Updating The System
Chief Coroner - Peter Thornton QCCoroners and Justice Act 2009 On 17th September, the new Chief Coroner for England and Wales (Judge Peter Thornton QC) finally took office. As the government cogitated about implementation of the 2009 Act, he was...
- Hillsborough ~ Independent Panel ~ No.2
UPDATE 12th October - IPCC announcement UPDATE 5th October - Retirement announced of Sir Norman Bettison - Chief Constable of South Yorkshire UPDATE 17th September - The Justice Gap - Mark George QC - Hillsborough and Cover Ups UPDATES 13th September...
- Coroners: A Voice For Grieving Relatives
One of the oldest offices known to the law is that of Coroner. Writing in The Times 1st May, Frances Gibb drew attention to how Coroners have become the voice of grieving relatives seeking to expose systemic failings which may have contributed to...
Law and Rights
A Chief Coroner? Yes, no, maybe .... !!
The Bill commenced its Parliamentary progress in the House of Lords and must therefore yet go before the House of Commons. It is to be hoped that they accept this Lords amendment.
Earlier posts: Bonfire of the Quangos
The Quango cull - Sir Philip Green's "efficiency" report
- Hillsborough Inquests Underway
Goldring LJThe April 1989 Hillsborough Disaster Inquests began today (31st March). The initial inquests were never seen as satisfactory by the families of the deceased and fresh inquests were ordered by the High Court in December 2012. The new inquests...
- Hillsborough Disaster ~ New Inquest To Be Held
Update: The judgment of the court quashing all the inquest verdicts - Her Majesty' Attorney-General v HM Coroner for South Yorkshire (West) and HM Coroner for West Yorkshire (West) [2012] EWHC 3783 Admin - Lord Judge LCJ, Burnett...
- Coroners - Chief Coroner And Updating The System
Chief Coroner - Peter Thornton QCCoroners and Justice Act 2009 On 17th September, the new Chief Coroner for England and Wales (Judge Peter Thornton QC) finally took office. As the government cogitated about implementation of the 2009 Act, he was...
- Hillsborough ~ Independent Panel ~ No.2
UPDATE 12th October - IPCC announcement UPDATE 5th October - Retirement announced of Sir Norman Bettison - Chief Constable of South Yorkshire UPDATE 17th September - The Justice Gap - Mark George QC - Hillsborough and Cover Ups UPDATES 13th September...
- Coroners: A Voice For Grieving Relatives
One of the oldest offices known to the law is that of Coroner. Writing in The Times 1st May, Frances Gibb drew attention to how Coroners have become the voice of grieving relatives seeking to expose systemic failings which may have contributed to...