10 December 2010

From: Brake, the road safety charity, PO Box 548, Huddersfield, HD1 2XZ
Tel: 01484 559909 Out of hours: 07976 069159 E-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
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The Editor of The Times

Sir/Madam

As charities supporting bereaved people, we welcomed the establishment of a Chief Coroner to spearhead reform of the archaic coronial system.

Inquests into sudden and contentious deaths - such as deaths from accidents, in road crashes, at work, in custody or in active service - are often the only public forum in which bereaved people can seek answers and through which other lives can be safeguarded.

Bereaved people have had to grapple with unacceptable delays, inconsistent standards of service delivery and a poorly functioning and unaccountable system.

The Chief Coroner, the centrepiece of the Coroners and Justice Act passed with cross-party support a year ago, underpins an overhaul called for by numerous inquiries, reviews and parliamentary reports. The role was designed to ensure judicial oversight, enforce national standards and increase accountability. 

As part of the Public Bodies Bill to be scrutinised by the House of Lords tomorrow, the Government proposes to scrap this vital post. We urge them to reconsider.  If the Chief Coroner's office is abolished, an opportunity will be wasted to create an inquest system fit for the 21st Century with bereaved families at its heart. This would be a false economy if there ever was one.

Yours faithfully

Deborah Coles, Co-Director, INQUEST

Chris Simpkins, Director General, The Royal British Legion

Debbie Kerslake, Chief Executive, CRUSE Bereavement Care

Javed Khan, Chief Executive, Victim Support

Peter Walsh, CEO, Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA)

Alison Cox MBE, Founder & Chief Executive, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY)

Ann Chalmers, Chief Executive, Child Bereavement Charity

Pamela Dix, Executive Director, Disaster Action

Rose Dixon, Chief Executive, Support after Murder and Manslaughter (SAMM National)

Angela Samata, Chair, Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)

Mark Ferland, Chair, The Compassionate Friends

Julie Townsend, Campaigns Director, BRAKE

Amy Aeron-Thomas, Executive Director, RoadPeace