The Coroner’s Officer works for the Coroner. Each case is assigned a Coroner’s Officer and it is their job to be the Coroner’s “eyes and ears”. They are the main point of contact for the family before the inquest. It is extremely unlikely that anyone is able to speak to the Coroner in person before the Inquest, so families should contact their designated coroner’s officer.

It is the Coroner’s Officer’s task to gather evidence such as witness statements and medical records for the inquest. The Coroner’s Officer will try and answer any questions a family might have before the inquest. The Coroner decides whether a family can see any evidence before the inquest takes place – a family do not usually have a legal right to disclosure of the evidence before the inquest although if the case involves medical treatment the family is entitled to a copy of the deceased’s medical notes and records.