CORONERS INQUESTS

New Coroners and Justice Bill introduced to Parliament

Modernisation of the coroners system and better protection for witnesses during criminal investigations were amongst the new measures announced by Justice Secretary Jack Straw when he published the Coroners and Justice Bill. The Bill is an element of the Government drive for a fairer, more transparent and responsive criminal justice system that puts the needs of victims at its heart.

Key measures relevant to workplace deaths include:

  • appointment of a senior Judge to the new post of Chief Coroner;
  • new national standards for coroners’ investigations;
  • measures to ensure verdicts are accurate and based on all available evidence;
  • ‘Charter for the Bereaved’ to ensure minimum standards of care at every stage;
  • new Sentencing Council to better secure further consistency and transparency in sentencing;
  • statutory backing to principle that UK courts can take account of a defendant’s previous convictions (even where the conviction occurred overseas (EU) and;
  • an accessible appeals system for bereaved families against coroners decisions.

This article was posted on 14th January 2009 in ALL LATEST NEWS, INQUESTS.
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