The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the actions of the coroner’s office. We have no power to do so.
The complaint
Ms X complains about the actions of the coroner’s office. She says there was poor communication, documents for the inquest were distributed late and staff did not check the accuracy of evidence submitted for an inquest. She also says the Council has failed to investigate and respond to all points of her complaint.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
We investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as the coroner or coroner’s office staff exercising the coroner’s functions. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34(1), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
We cannot investigate this complaint. Although the Council provides staff for the coroner’s office, when undertaking tasks on behalf of a coroner as part of the coroner’s statutory functions relating to coronial investigations, coroner’s officers are exercising the coroner’s functions, not those of the council. We cannot, therefore, consider complaints about those actions.
We will also not investigate the Council’s handling of her complaint. It is not a good use of public resources to investigate complaint handling, when we are unable to consider the substantive matter.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because we have no power to do so.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman