Feedback & Complaints

We welcome feedback, whether that’s about where things are working well or where improvements could be made.  Feedback can be given on our contact form that can be found here.

We are committed to dealing with complaints fairly and objectively.  Complaints about administrative decisions, or related to the service offered by our team, or regarding an individual's behaviour can be raised formally or informally. Challenges to judicial decisions or determinations made by a coroner must be dealt with under separate legal procedures which are set out further below.

Complaints about matters other than judicial decisions

The first thing we invite you to do if you are concerned about the quality of service you have received, is to raise the matter with the member of staff concerned.  You can telephone, email or write to them.  

Alternatively, both informal and formal complaints about the administration of Coroner’s Service, or the conduct of an individual coroner or officer can also be raised with the Senior Coroner at:

hm.coroner@westsussex.gov.uk

HM Senior Coroner
Record Office
Orchard Street
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 1DD

If you are not satisfied with the response to your complaint about a Coroner’s conduct, you may also escalate your complaint to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO).

Challenging a judical decision, including challenging the conclusion of an inquest

Parliament has not put in place any statutory appeal process for challenging a coroner's judicial decisions. There is no route of appeal to the Chief Coroner.

Coroners, like all judges, are independent. This independence means that the Chief Coroner cannot investigate any matters relating to the personal conduct of a judicial office holder. The Chief Coroner also has no power to review, investigate, comment on, or otherwise intervene in the individual judicial decisions of coroners, or in the case management of individual cases.

A decision made by a Coroner during the inquest or the conclusion reached at the end of an inquest may however be challenged in certain circumstances by way of Judicial Review in the High Court, where a senior Judge can review the lawfulness of a decision taken. It is a review of the way the decision was made, rather than the rights and wrongs of the conclusion reached, and the application usually must be made promptly and within three months of the original decision. 

Judicial decisions of a coroner can also be challenged under s.13 of the Coroners Act 1988 with the permission of the Attorney General.  The Attorney General, or someone who has the Attorney General’s permission, can apply to the High Court for an inquest to be held if a Coroner has not held one, or for a fresh investigation and inquest if one has already been held.  The High Court will only order a fresh inquest if it is necessary or desirable in the interests of justice. There is no time limit for making s.13 applications.

If you are thinking about challenging a Coroner’s decision by way of Judicial Review or under s.13, you may wish to first seek advice from a lawyer with experience in this area, as it can be a complicated legal process. A lawyer will be able to advise you whether you would be entitled to legal aid to bring your claim.