Chief Coroner

Justice secretary Kenneth Clarke has decided that a single figure needs to be responsible for the coroner system, and will implement the office of the chief coroner.

Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15847352

Cremation applications

Guidance for families about inspecting medical certificates before a cremation.

http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/guidance/burials-and-coroners/cremations/cremation-applicants-guidance.pdf

Welsh government consultation

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation paper for a new law which could increase the number of organs available for transplant.  Read about the proposals at     http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-15625285

Organ donor proposal

A report from the Nuffield Council of Bioethics suggested that patients who donate their organs should have their funeral expenses paid for by the NHS.  Read more at  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15242675

Final and Interim death certificates

In England and Wales, a final death certificate is issued at the local Register Office if  there is  a medical certificate of death issued by either the doctor or HM Coroner.  To find out who can register a death visit  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/WhatToDoAfterADeath/DG_10029642

If the Coroner opens an inquest to investigate how, when and where the person died, there will be an Interim death certificate, which may not show a medical cause of death.  When the inquest is  over, HM Coroner tells the Registrar to register the death.  The final death certificate is then available.

Forensics and jewelry

To help with disaster victim identification, a jewelry classification system has been researched by jewelry graduates. Visit  http://mariamaclennandesignresearch.blogspot.com/ for more information.

Resomation and Promession

Two alternative processes  to burial and cremation.  Read more about both by visiting http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14114555 

Tell us once scheme

A number of government offices need to be notifed when someone has passed away.  Click on the link for information about the Tell us Once scheme which is offered by some local authorities in England and Wales http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_188740

Exhumation applications

Exhumation applications are processed by the MInistry of Justice.  About 5 per cent of applications are for  repatriation to an overseas destination.   Sometimes a second license called a Bishops Faculty is also required.  Read the MOJ list of FAQs at  http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/docs/exhuming-human-remains-faq.pdf  

Recommendations from 7/7 inquest

Click on the link to read an article by journalist Ross Lydall about the response  to Lady Justice Hallet's recommendations


http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23971228-agencies-fully-accept-lessons-of-77-inquest.do

Metropolitan police

Click on this link for Met Police advice to tourists in London http://www.met.police.uk/tourist/index.htm in six languages and this http://www.met.police.uk/contacts   for information about reporting crime.   For addresses of  police stations in London Boroughs visit http://www.met.police.uk/local/

Victims Commissioner

Victims Commissioner Louise Casey will publish her policy review into the support given to families bereaved by serious crime.  To read her last press release, visit    
http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/press-releases/victims-com/vcnewsrelease240611c.htm

Volcanic ash affects flights in South America

A volcanic eruption in Chile affected flights in South America, causing disrupton as far away as Australia and New Zealand.  Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13761795

FCO apostille

From April 1, 2011 the Foreign Office Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes processes documents for the public by post only.   For more information about the postal service, visit http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=PressS&id=553168982#

EU organ transplant standards

For the first time,  a formal regulatory framework will be developed for the donation and transplant of organs. The ultimate goal is to ensure common high quality and safe standards for the donation, procurement, transportation, traceability and follow up of donated organs for transplant across the EU. Visit   http://www.hta.gov.uk/contentdisplay.cfm?widCall1=customWidgets.content_view_1&cit_id=973  for more information.

Consultation: Draft Charter for the Current Coroner Service

Launch of a consultation from May 19 to September 5, 2011.  Visit http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations  for more information.   See page 30 of the consultation for a flow chart of the coroner's investigation process

7/7 inquest verdict

To read Lady Justice Hallet's verdict and recommendations, visit

http://7julyinquests.independent.gov.uk/docs/orders/rule43-report.pdf

Budget airlines

Low cost airlines have a fast turnaround which helps to keep their operating costs down.  We usually  cannot use these flights for coffin repatriation, but we 'll explore other affordable options.   

Flight surcharges from the UK

In addition to the rate for transportation, there are additional charges for fuel, customs and handling, and security.  Repatriation estimates include these charges and any other surcharges applied by individual airlines. VAT is charged on   flights to EU destinations from the UK.

HM Coroners Jury

A coroner's jury is necessary in a limited number of inquest cases. The number of jurors is a minimum of seven and a maximum of eleven. The Coroners Act, 1988, sets out the categories where a coroner's jury is currently required, i.e. when a death occurs
(1) in prison;
(2) in police custody or as a result of police causing injury;
(3) which is reportable under separate legislation to a government department or officer or to the Health and Safety Executive;
(4) occurring in circumstances prejudicial to public health or safety.
Visit

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/ukpga_19880013_en_1#pb3-l1g8 for more information.

Death registration and certificates

In England and Wales, the final death certificate is issued by a Registrar at the local Register Office.   Each Registrar has their own Register which holds 300 entries.  On the day of registration, certificates costs £3.50 each.   For certificates obtained later,  the price of the certificate increases.    Visit http://www.direct.gov.uk/bereavement_radio.dsb?pr=BDT  to see who is eligible to register a death.

7/7 inquests at the Royal Courts of Justice

309 witnesses have given evidence at the 7/7 inquests. Coroner Lady Justice Hallett is expected to deliver verdicts before April 20, when the Court rises for Easter. It's almost five months since the inquests started.

Search and rescue in Japan

UK fire service search and rescue specialists from Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Greater Manchester, West Sussex, Kent, West Midlands, Mid West Wales, Hertfordshire and Cheshire are helping the rescue effort in Japan.  Visit   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8378968/UK-search-and-rescue-team-heads-to-Japan.html to see a video of the team.

Metropolitan Police team in New Zealand

A Metropolitan Police disaster victim identification team travelled to New Zealand to assist local teams following the earthquake.  For more information, click on the link  http://content.met.police.uk/News/Met-officers-arrive-in-New-Zealand/1260268585525/1257246741786

Queen's Award for Coroners Courts Support Service

The CCSS received the Queen's Award for Charity,  which recognises outstanding achievement  by groups of volunteers who regularly devote their time to helping others in their community.    In  the 110 Coroner's jurisdictions  in England and Wales, CCSS is represented in Essex, North,  South and East London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Surrey, and Berkshire with requests to open in Kent and Cambridgeshire in 2011.  Volunteers help families at the inquest, guiding them through the process and assisting witnesses.  For more information click on the link http://www.coronerscourtssupportservice.org.uk/

Road crash tragedies

Helpline for people affected by road crashes: tel 0845 603 8570
Brake is a charity caring for people bereaved and injured by road crashes, and increasingly other causes of sudden death.  For more information visit http://www.brake.org.uk/ or   http://www.brake.org.uk/translations-advice-for-bereaved-families-and-friends-following-a-death-on-the-road-in-england-or-wales  to download translations of their leaflet in Bengali, Polish, Turkish, Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Urdu.   For help for bereaved  children  visit http://www.amyandtom.org/    For help following any sudden death  visit http://www.suddendeath.org/