Schedule 4
Coroners and Justice Bill
7:15 pm
Henry Bellingham (Shadow Minister, Justice; North West Norfolk, Conservative)
Paragraph 3(1) of schedule 4 states:
“A senior coroner conducting an investigation under this Part, if authorised
in writing—
(a) by the Chief Coroner, or
(b) by another senior coroner nominated by the Chief Coroner to give authorisation,
may enter and search any land specified in the authorisation.”
My concern is simple. We believe that too many agencies have too much power to enter and search land or property. That is why we want to delete paragraph (b) and retain the powers in the hands of the chief coroner only, not other senior coroners or those nominated by the chief coroner. The measure is simple and straightforward. It will simply add safeguards for householders, landowners and other such people who might come up against a totally unscrupulous situation in which those powers are abused. I commend the amendment to the Committee.