The coroner is a doctor or lawyer responsible for investigating deaths in particular situations and can also arrange for a post-mortem examination of the body, if necessary. An inquest is a legal inquiry into the causes and circumstances of a death.

The Surrey Coroner is Mr Richard Travers and the deputy is Dr Karin Englehart. The coroner is supported by a number of coroner’s officers located at Woking. They deal with cases under the direction of the coroner, reporting to and referring to him.

When is a death reported to the coroner?

If death occurs in any of the following circumstances, the doctor may report it to the coroner:

• after an accident or injury
• following an industrial disease
• during a surgical operation
• before recovery from an anaesthetic
• if the cause of death is unknown
• if the death was violent or unnatural - for example, suicide, accident or drug or alcohol overdose
• if the death was sudden and unexplained - for instance, a sudden infant death (cot death)

In addition to this, if the deceased was not seen by the doctor issuing the medical certificate after he or she died, or during the 14 days before the death, the death must be reported to the coroner.

Anyone who is concerned about the cause of a death can inform a coroner about it, but in most cases a death will be reported to the coroner by a doctor, the police or the registrar of deaths.

What happens once a death is reported to the coroner?

The coroner may be the only person able to certify the cause of death and will decide whether there should be any further investigation. The registrar cannot register the death until notified of the coroner's decision. This means that the funeral will usually also be delayed. Where a post-mortem has taken place, the coroner must give permission for cremation.

Post-mortems

In some cases, the coroner will need to order a post-mortem. This is a medical examination of the body to find out more about the cause of death. In these cases, the body will be taken to a hospital for this to be carried out.
You do not have the right to refuse permission for a post-mortem ordered by the coroner, but you should tell the coroner if you have religious or other strong objections. In cases where a death is reported to a coroner because the person had not seen a doctor in the previous 14 days (28 in Northern Ireland) the coroner will consult with the deceased person's doctor and will usually not need to order a post-mortem.

If a post-mortem shows that death was due to natural causes, the coroner will issue a notification of this (called a Pink Form B - Form 100), so that the death can be registered. The notification is usually sent directly from the coroner to the registrar. If the body is to be cremated, the coroner will give you the form which allows this to take place (called Certificate of Coroner - Cremation Form 6).

Inquests

An inquest is a legal inquiry into the medical cause and circumstances of a death. It is held in public - sometimes with a jury - by a coroner, in cases where the death was:

• violent or unnatural
• took place in prison or police custody
• the cause of death is still uncertain after a post-mortem

Coroners hold inquests in these circumstances even if the death occurred abroad (and the body is returned to Britain). If a body is lost (usually at sea) a coroner can hold an inquest by order of the Secretary of State if death is likely to have occurred in or near a coroner's area of jurisdiction.

If an inquest is held, the coroner must inform:

• the married or civil partner of the deceased
• the nearest relative (if different from the above)
• the personal representative (if different from the above)

Relatives can also attend an inquest and ask questions of witnesses - these questions can only be about the medical cause and circumstances of the death. Relatives can ask a lawyer to represent them, but there is no legal aid available for this. It may be particularly important to have a lawyer to represent you if the death was caused by a road accident, an accident at work, or other circumstances which could lead to a claim for compensation.

If an inquest into a death is carried out, there will inevitably be a delay in the actual death registration. In order for you to be able to deal with the deceased's estate whilst the inquest is proceeding, the coroner will issue you with interim death certificates which will be required by banks, insurance companies etc. when discussing the deceased's personal affairs.

Once the inquest has been completed, the coroner will issue a form directly to the registrar enabling them to complete the formal death registration - this may be weeks or months after the death actually occurred. You do not need to attend an appointment for this type of registration. Instead, the coroner will give you details of how you may apply to the register office for copies of the official death certificate, should you wish to do so.

Past inquest records

Records of Surrey coroners' cases are lodged with the Surrey History Centre, Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey. If the death occurred more than 75 years ago then any record is open to public inspection; if the death was less than 75 years ago then, subject to the coroner's permission, the record is open to those who have a 'proper interest'.

Contact details

See Surrey coroner website.
The Surrey Police Press Office is advised of the inquest hearing arrangements for cases to be heard in the current week.

Any press or media inquiries concerning the late Diana, Princess of Wales or the late Dodi Al Fayed should be directed to Paul Marinko on 020 8541 9548.

Read more on the Surrey Coroner.