What is a Coroner
Coroners are judicial office holders who are independent and appointed directly by the Crown and are responsible for investigating deaths in Suffolk to find out how, when and where they occurred. They are qualified with substantial experience as a lawyer or doctor (or sometimes both).
Assistant Coroners are part-time appointments, which the post holders combine with other professional duties.
The Coroner will investigate a death if:
- it was violent, unnatural or suspicious
- the cause of death is unknown
- the person died in prison, police custody or any type of state detention
Investigating a death may be as simple as consulting with the doctor who last treated the person who has died, or a post-mortem examination may be needed.
In some cases, an inquest may be opened, which is a judicial inquiry into the death. The inquest will take place at The Coroner Court.
The Coroner has a team of investigating officers. They liaise on his behalf with bereaved relatives, police, doctors, mortuary staff, hospital bereavement staff and funeral directors. Coroner's Officers are the people you will speak to when you get in touch with the office.
If an inquest is opened one officer will take responsibility for the case. They will then be your ongoing point of contact.
The Coroner for Suffolk
Mr Nigel Parsley is HM Senior Coroner for Suffolk.
He is assisted by Area Coroner Mr Darren Stewart OBE, Assistant Coroners Dr Dan Sharpstone, Mr Tim Deeming, Mr Peter Taheri Mrs Yvonne Blake and Mrs Catherine Wood.
Contact details for the Coroners Court
The Coroner's Court and offices, Beacon House, Whitehouse Road, Ipswich, IP1 5PB
Telephone: 0345 607 2040
- Open Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm
- Closed weekends and bank holidays
- For immediate help following a death the Bereavement Advice Centre | What to Do When Someone Dies may be of use.
- Family information leaflet for situations where a death has been attended by a Police Officer:
- Family information leafletPDF932KB