Citation

1.  This Order may be cited as the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (Commencement No. 15, Consequential and Transitory Provisions) Order 2013.

Commencement of provisions of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009

2.  The following provisions of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 are commenced on 25th July 2013-

(a)sections 1 to 11 and sections 13 to 17 (investigations into deaths);

(b)sections 22 to 24 (coroner areas, appointments etc.);

(c)section 32 only in so far as it relates to paragraphs 1, 2, 6 and 7 of Schedule 5 and sections 33 to 34 (further provision to do with investigations and deaths);

(d)section 36 with the exclusion of subsection (4)(c), section 37, section 41 only in so far as it relates to paragraphs 1, 3 and 5 of Schedule 10 and section 42 (governance etc.);

(e)section 46 (coroner of the Queen's household);

(f)section 177(1) (consequential etc. amendments, and transitional and saving provisions) to the extent that it relates to the provisions specified in sub-paragraph (o);

(g)section 178 (repeals) only to the extent that it relates to the provisions specified in sub-paragraph (p);

(h)Schedule 1 (duty or power to suspend or resume investigations);

(i)Schedule 2 (coroner areas);

(j)Schedule 3 (appointment etc. of senior coroners, area coroners and assistant coroners);

(k)paragraphs 1, 2, 6 and 7 of Schedule 5 (powers of coroners);

(l)Schedule 6 (offences);

(m)Schedule 7 (allowances, fees and expenses);

(n)paragraphs 1, 3 and 5 of Schedule 10 (investigation by Chief Coroner or Coroner for Treasure or by judge, former judge or former coroner);

(o)in Part 1 of Schedule 21 (minor and consequential amendments)-

(i)paragraphs 1 to 7;

(ii)paragraph 8(4);

(iii)paragraph 9(3)(d);

(iv)paragraph 11(3);

(v)paragraph 15(1), (3), and (4);

(vi)paragraph 15(2) but only in so far as substituting subsection (2) of section 23 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953(2) with a new subsection (2) and not subsection (2ZA);

(vii)paragraph 18(1) and (2) to the extent that those provisions introduce a new subsection (3B) only into section 29 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953;

(viii)paragraph 18(3) and (4) (and paragraph 18(1) in so far as relating to those provisions);

(ix)paragraph 21(1) but only in relation to the definition of "the 2009 Act";

(x)paragraph 21(2) but only in so far as inserting a new subsection (3) into section 41 of the Birth and Deaths Registration Act 1953 and not a new subsection (2);

(xi)paragraphs 22 to 25;

(xii)paragraph 26 with the exception of the words "Coroner for Treasure";

(xiii)paragraph 28;

(xiv)paragraph 30;

(xv)paragraphs 32 to 36;

(xvi)paragraphs 44 and 45; and

(xvii)paragraph 51 to the extent that it relates to the Deputy Chief Coroner only; and

(p)Part 1 of Schedule 23 (repeals: coroners etc.) to the extent that it relates to the entry for the Coroners Act 1988(3) except for sections 4A(8) and 13(1) and (2) of that Act.

Transitory modification provision in relation to treasure inquests

3.  From the time when the provision in article 2(p) of this Order is commenced until such time as sections 25 to 31 (investigations concerning treasure) of, and Schedule 4 to, the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 come into force-

(a)the Coroners Act 1988 is to be treated as not repealed, in so far as it relates to the exercise of a coroner's jurisdiction in relation to treasure inquests as provided by section 30 of that Act;

(b)any reference to a coroner in the Coroners Act 1988 is to be treated as a reference to a coroner appointed under section 23 of, and Schedule 3 to, the Coroners and Justice Act 2009; and

(c)any reference to a coroner district in the Coroners Act 1988 is to be treated as a reference to a coroner area constituted under section 22 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

Consequential amendments

4.  The amendments made in the Schedule shall have effect on 25th July 2013.

Article 4

SCHEDULEConsequential amendments

Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954

1.  In Schedule 2 to the Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954 (4) for "Coroner. Deputy Coroner. Assistant Deputy Coroner" substitute "Senior Coroner. Area Coroner. Assistant Coroner".

Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987

2.-(1) The Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987(5) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1)-

(a)insert at the appropriate place ""the 2009 Act" means the Coroners and Justice Act 2009";

(b)for the definition of "coroner" substitute-

""coroner" includes-

(a)a senior coroner, area coroner and assistant coroner;

(b)the Chief Coroner when conducting an investigation under paragraph 1 of Schedule 10 to the 2009 Act; and

(c)a judge, former judge, or former coroner conducting an investigation under paragraph 3 of Schedule 10 to the 2009 Act;"; and

(c)in the definition of "inquest", for "has been adjourned under section 20(1) of the Coroners (Amendment) Act 1962 (whether or not the inquest is subsequently resumed)" substitute "is conducted as part of an investigation under Part 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (including any inquest which has been adjourned)".

(3) In regulation 43(2) for "by his direction under section 19 of the Coroners Act 1988" substitute "upon a request under section 14 of the 2009 Act".

(4) In regulation 70 omit paragraph (2).

The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002

3.  In paragraph 7 of part 3 of Schedule 3 to the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002(6) for "verdict" substitute "determination or findings".

Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008

4.-(1) The Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008(7) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1)-

(a)omit the definition for "the 1988 Act";

(b)insert at the appropriate place ""the 2009 Act" means the Coroners and Justice Act 2009"; and

(c)for ""inquest" means an inquest into the death of a deceased person under section 8 of the 1988 Act" substitute ""investigation" means an investigation into the death of a deceased person under Part 1 of the 2009 Act".

(3) In regulation 18-

(a)in sub-paragraph (a) for "section 19(1) of the 1988 Act" substitute "section 14 of the 2009 Act" and for "section 19(3) of the 1988 Act" substitute "a post-mortem examination made under section 14 of the 2009 Act has revealed the cause of death of the deceased and the coroner does not think it necessary to continue the investigation";

(b)in sub-paragraph (b) for "inquest has been opened" substitute "investigation has begun"; and

(c)in sub-paragraph (c) for "inquest" substitute "investigation".

(4) In Schedule 1-

(a)in Cremation Form 6 (Certificate of coroner) in the second box of Part 2 of that form for "inquest on the body" substitute "investigation into the death"; and

(b)in Cremation Form 8 (Certificate releasing body parts for cremation) in Part 2 of that form, in both places where it occurs for "district" substitute "area".

The National Health Service (Performers Lists) (England) Regulations 2013

5.-(1) The National Health Service (Performers Lists) (England) Regulations 2013(8) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 4(5)(i) for "as a person who falls within rule 20(2)(d) (entitlement to examine witnesses) or rule 24 (notice to person whose conduct is likely to be called into question) of the Coroners Rules 1984" substitute "conducted as part of an investigation under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, as a person who is found to have caused, or contributed to, the death of the deceased or otherwise had their conduct brought into question".

(3) In regulation 9(2)(h) for "falls within rule 20(2)(d) (entitlement to examine witnesses) or rule 24 (notice to person whose conduct is likely to be called into question) of the Coroners Rules 1984" substitute "has been found by a coroner to have caused, or contributed to, the death of the deceased or otherwise had their conduct brought into question at an inquest conducted as part of an investigation under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009".

(4) In regulation 9(4)(i) for "as a person who falls within rule 20(2)(d) (entitlement to examine witnesses) or rule 24 (notice to person whose conduct is likely to be called into question) of the Coroners Rules 1984" substitute "conducted as part of an investigation under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, as a person who is found to have caused, or contributed to, the death of the deceased or otherwise had their conduct brought into question".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order commences the majority of provisions relating to coroners in Part 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 ("the 2009 Act") and repeals most of the Coroners Act 1988 (with the exception of sections 4(8)A, 13(1) and 13(2)).

Article 3 makes transitory modifications in relation to provisions concerning treasure inquests until such time as the substantive provisions relating to treasure inquests come into force. This will allow coroners to continue conducting inquests into treasure, until such time that the substantive treasure provisions in Part 1 of the 2009 Act are commenced.

Article 4 and the Schedule make consequential amendments to subordinate legislation to reflect the new terminology introduced by Part 1 of the 2009 Act.

NOTE AS TO EARLIER COMMENCEMENT ORDERS

(This note is not part of the Order)

The following provisions of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25) have been brought into force by commencement order made before the date of this Order: