Clause 14
Coroners and Justice Bill
12:45 pm
Bridget Prentice (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Justice; Lewisham East, Labour)
One example is—[Laughter.] My notes actually say: as an example, the police would carry out an investigation, taking statements and analysing evidence in the immediate aftermath of a death where criminality is suspected. The coroner would have a role only as custodian of the body. Once his or her responsibilities in that respect are completed, it would be a waste of resources for the coroner to conduct a parallel investigation taking the same statements. It is right that the criminal case should take precedence. The coroner’s proceedings are an inquest or inquiry into the establishment of fact, rather than the trial of a particular individual. Perhaps it would be helpful of me to add that the coroner must suspend an investigation if required to do so by the Lord Chancellor on the grounds that the death is likely to be adequately investigated by an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005.