Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Consequent upon the establishment of a national service and an inspectorate, there should be a...
Conclusion
Consequent upon the establishment of a national service and an inspectorate, there should be a review of the mechanisms available for handling complaints against Coroners. (Paragraph 167) Public disasters
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government’s position on the Committee’s recommendations on a national service and inspectorate are set out above. The Government acknowledges the concerns raised by bereaved people and others about the challenges they may face if they seek to make a complaint where a coroner’s conduct has fallen short of what is expected of a judicial office holder. However, coroners are independent judicial office holders and the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) is an independent body which provides a robust mechanism for dealing consistently with complaints about the personal conduct of judicial office holders. The JCIO supports the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice in their joint responsibility for judicial conduct and discipline. The Government considers it would be inappropriate and unhelpful to treat coroners differently from other judicial holders and this could lead to inconsistencies in the way complaints are dealt with. It therefore rejects this recommendation.