Freedom of Information, Information Compliance Unit, Kent Police Headquarters, Sutton Road,
Maidstone, Kent ME15 9BZ Phone: 01622 654429
Fax: 01622 654437 - e-mail: [email address]
Ms. Beverley Treml
Date:
29th March 2010
[FOI #29810 email]
Tel No.: (DDI)
01622 654429
FOI Ref:
1491/2010
Dear Ms. Treml,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 1491/2010 I write in connection with your correspondence received by Kent Police on the 1st March 2010,
in which you requested the following information:
I wish to know your regulations for a coroner to notify an; individual about an inquest into the
death a very close relation.
Coroners are independent judicial officers appointed and paid for by the relevant local
authorities who are responsible for investigating violent, unnatural deaths or sudden deaths of
unknown cause and deaths in custody that are reported to them.
Kent Police do not have any specific policy regarding the notification of interested parties
following a death. However, we are not required to notify all ‘interested persons’, as listed in
section 47 of the Coroners Act (amended 2009) which includes, but is not limited to;
(a) a spouse, civil partner, partner, parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent,
grandchild, child of a brother or sister, stepfather, stepmother, half-brother or half-
sister;
(b) a personal representative of the deceased;
Kent Police policy M64 requires officers dealing with sudden deaths to -
‘make as many enquiries as possible to trace next of kin; ensure the Coroner's Officer is aware
of the progress of those enquiries.’
Policy M64 can be viewed online at www.kent.police.uk
On behalf of the coroners Kent Police will, so far as is reasonable, notify any interested persons
such as next of kin or legal representatives where this information is known, as well as any
witnesses etc.
More information on the role of coroners can be found at;
http://www.coronersociety.org.uk
Kent Police : Central Operations FOI
Policy No. D18
Form No.3540_11 rev Feb 2005 [erev 02/5] v1.5
This site states that the Ministry of Justice (http://www.justice.gov.uk) is responsible for the law
and policy that governs coroners and deals with the operation of the current coroner system.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Justice would hold any information concerning legal requirements or
regulations.
Thank you for your interest in Kent Police and I hope the information provided is of assistance
to you. If you have any further queries concerning your request, or the application of the
Freedom of Information Act in general, please contact this office quoting the reference number
shown above.
Yours sincerely,
Laura Birchley
Freedom of Information Administrator
Kent Police : Central Operations FOI
Form No.3540_11 rev Jan 2005 [erev 1/05] v1.1
Policy No. D18
Your right to complain
We take our responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act seriously but, if you feel your
request has not been properly handled or you are otherwise dissatisfied with the outcome of
your request, you have the right to complain. We will conduct an internal review to investigate
the matter and endeavor to reply within 20 working days. If your appeal concerns the decision
to apply an exemption, it would assist the review if you would outline why you believe the
exemption does not apply.
You may lodge your complaint by writing to:
Information Compliance Unit
Professional Standards Department
Kent Police Headquarters
Sutton Road,
Maidstone
Kent
ME15 9BZ
Or by e-mailing
[email address]
If you are still dissatisfied following our internal review, you have the right under section 50 of
the Act to complain directly to the Information Commissioner. Before considering your
complaint, the Information Commissioner would normally expect you to have exhausted the
complaints procedures provided by Kent Police.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
FOI Compliance Team (complaints)
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Kent Police : Central Operations FOI
Form No.3540_11 rev Jan 2005 [erev 1/05] v1.1
Policy No. D18
