About the coroner
The Senior Coroner for East Sussex is Laura Bradford, an independent judicial officer presiding over a Court of Record within the English Judicial system.
East Sussex also has four Assistant Coroners, namely James Healy-Pratt, Fiona King, Rachel Redman and Michael Spencer.
Although appointed and paid by the Local Authority, the Coroner is not a local government officer but holds office under the Crown and operates independently of East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and all other institutions.
What do Coroners do?
Coroners discharge their duties in accordance with the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and other relevant legislation.
Coroners are responsible for the investigation of all violent or unnatural deaths, sudden deaths of unknown cause and deaths in custody/state detention which are reported to them.
A death may be reported for several reasons. It does not mean that there is anything suspicious about the death, it may be that the doctor is unsure of the exact cause or that the person has died earlier than expected, suffered from an industrial disease, died during a surgical operation, or before recovery from an anaesthetic, for example.
In certain circumstances an inquest may be required. The inquest may investigate shortcomings by others that have led to a death, but a Coroner cannot find that any individual or organisation is legally liable for a death.
The role of Coroner’s Officers
East Sussex Coroner Service has a team of eight Coroner’s Officers who will liaise with bereaved families, witnesses, police, doctors and funeral directors. They will also be the main link between the Coroner and the bereaved at all stages of an investigation and inquest.
In East Sussex, the Coroner's Officers are employed by East Sussex County Council, but they all work under the direction of the Coroner. This is an important safeguard to uphold the interests of fairness and justice.
The Guide to coroner services and coroner investigations (GOV.UK) provides further information including the standards of performance expected from the East Sussex Coroner service. It also provides details of other services that may be useful to bereaved persons, including details of how to make a complaint.
