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New “Bench Book” released titled Chief Coroner’s Guidance for Coroners on the Bench

A team of coroners collaborated to produce the book led by Christopher Dorries OBE and Bridget Dolan KC.

Nichola Halpin, Partner in the Regulatory Healthcare team and inquest specialist, notes the release of a new Bench Book, to be titled the Chief Coroner’s Guidance for Coroners on the Bench.

In May 2024, Her Honour Judge Alexia Durran was appointed as Chief Coroner of England and Wales in succession to His Honour Judge Thomas Teague KC for a three-year term. Before this, she had served as Deputy Chief Coroner for five years.

The Chief Coroner provides judicial leadership for coroners and the coroner service in England and Wales, as well as issuing national guidance and leading on training for coroners. The release of additional Chief Coroner guidance and a new Coroner’s “Bench Book” were anticipated on HHJ Durran’s appointment, the first Bench Book having been introduced around ten years ago.

A team of coroners collaborated to produce the book led by Christopher Dorries OBE and Bridget Dolan KC and, on 24 January 2025, the new “Bench Guidance” was issued online and fully published on 27 January. It is a comprehensive guide covering all coronial work to ensure consistency and best practice. As well as being a key reference tome for coroners themselves, it is likely to also prove invaluable to inquest practitioners.

Key points for practitioners to note:

  1. It is intended to be a “live” document that will be regularly reviewed (it is intended, for example, for future chapters to include Article 2) so they will need to watch out for any updates.
  2. It is not legally binding so coroners will still need to conduct their own legal research.
  3. While it holds the same status as the Chief Coroner’s existing guidance notes and law sheets, HHJ Durran notes that, “Within this Bench Guidance there are chapters which include, update and expand upon previous Chief Coroner guidance notes. Until the existing guidance notes are withdrawn or updated, there may be inconsistencies between them and some aspects of the Bench Guidance. Where such inconsistencies exist, the Bench Guidance will prevail.”
  4. Guidance Notes 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 21, 22, 25, 27, 29, 40, 41, 42 and 44 have all been incorporated into Guidance for Coroners on the Bench.
  5. New additions to the Guidance include:
  • A reminder to practitioners that written submissions made to the coroner should be served on other IPs at the same time as they are filed;  
  • Guidance on naming the deceased; and
  • A reminder to avoid using the word “committed” in the context of a death by suicide.

Links for further reference

If you would like further information contact Nichola Halpin, or take look at our Inquest service to see how we can help.

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