Schedule 4
Coroners and Justice Bill
8:30 pm
Jennifer Willott (Cardiff Central, Liberal Democrat)
I was speaking briefly to amendment 120, which would introduce a code of practice for the entry and search of land. I would be grateful if the Minister addressed two issues. First, the police must abide by a code of practice when entering and searching. It would be helpful for coroners to have a similar code. In some areas such as health and safety, they must have detailed parameters and guidance to work within.
I am afraid that the second issue relates to railway lines and utilities, which we discussed earlier. The schedule gives the senior coroner the power to require “any other thing” to be produced or to
“seize anything that is on the land”.
I am sure it is not intended that that should include things such as railway sleepers and electrical equipment. Such things are technically on the land and could be produced or seized, so they fall within the provision. Will the Minister confirm that that is not the intention and undertake to consider the wording? There are a number of things that could be involved that were not intended to be.