Policy background Coroner’s Courts Discontinuance of investigation where cause of death becomes clear
Section 4 of the Coroners and Justice Act (CJA) 2009 provides that coroners can only discontinue an investigation where the cause of death has been revealed by a post-mortem examination (PM). In all other circumstances, once an investigation has commenced, the coroner has no power to discontinue it and must hold an inquest.
	The effect of this provision is that if the coroner discovers the cause of death by means other than a PM – for example through medical records that become available at a later stage – the coroner must proceed to inquest, even though the outcome may be a foregone conclusion. This is an unnecessary step which is time consuming, costly and adds to the distress of the bereaved family. This provision will amend section 4 of the CJA 2009, broadening the circumstances in which coroners can discontinue investigations.