Inquests

An inquest in writing is allowed when the coroner considers that there is clear evidence to answer the statutory coronial questions of who the deceased is, when and where they died and how the death came about, and there appears to be no real prospect of disagreement as to the determination, findings or conclusion that the inquest should reach. 

The coroner must also be satisfied that there is no public interest reason for holding a hearing in public, and no objection by any of the people involved.

It is conducted on the same evidence required for an inquest in court, and follows the same principles and legal framework. 

The only difference is that the coroner is not in court when they do it and their findings and conclusion and determination are recorded in writing, instead of being read out loud at a public hearing. 

As these inquests can be conducted out of usual court hours, without requiring court staff and around other coronial work, they can often be concluded faster than at an inquest hearing.

Many families value being able to complete uncontentious inquests as quickly as possible, and/or without feeling that they have to travel and attend a formal hearing. 

The two-stage process of offering a provisional ruling to the family before final conclusion reduces anxiety for some families. 

All inquests conducted in court are public hearings which anyone, including the press, can attend.  This is part of the important principle of open justice: that justice is conducted in the open, in public and is open to scrutiny by the press.   

Inquests in writing are not private or closed inquests. Every inquest in writing must be publicised on the Isle of Wight Coroners’ Service website for 7 days before it is concluded in writing, and anyone can file an objection asking for it to be heard in public instead.

The press can, and often do, request disclosure of the final paperwork the coroner produces after an inquest in writing.

The Chief Coroner of England and Wales encourages disclosure of this information to be made to bona fide members of the press who request it to avoid inquests in writing becoming secretive and closed. 

When the investigation is complete, the coroner will review the evidence regarding the death of your loved one (just as they would at a hearing in court). You will be contacted by the Coroner’s Office to check that we have the correct email address for you and then you will be sent information relating to the Inquest in Writing together with the ‘disclosure bundle’. The disclosure bundle contains the evidence that will be considered by the coroner when making their ruling.

Families and any other recognised Interested Persons can review the information on which the coroner’s ruling and conclusion will be made before confirming to the case officer whether they agree for the inquest to be concluded on those terms without a hearing. 

If, after reviewing the information provided, you confirm you are happy for the inquest to be concluded in writing on those terms, then we will then list it in the public court diary as an inquest in writing.  The process requires us to say on our website, for at least seven days, that an inquest will be proceeding without a hearing.

If no objection is raised (it is unusual for an objection to be raised), the last step is that the coroner will review the case again and conclude the inquest in writing and you will be sent the formal and final Record of Inquest and coroner’s ruling.

If you request a hearing your request will be reviewed by the coroner and a decision will be made following your representations. 

The procedure should be much quicker than awaiting a hearing date for court.  The timing can be affected by further evidence received, or if we do not have all the evidence we need, or due to unexpected pressure in the service.

We aim to complete the process in 8 to 12 weeks from offering the inquest in writing to you