Community and living

Who are coroners?

Her Majesty's Coroners are independent judicial officers in England and Wales. They are appointed and financed by local authorities but are not employed by them.  Although local authorities have some control in financial matters, they have none over coroners' decisions. In practice, coroners are accountable to the High Court and to the Lord Chancellor. Coroners and their deputies must be either lawyers or medical practitioners of at least five years' standing, and each has the same powers to hold inquests.

Her Majesty's Coroner for the Southern District of Greater London, comprising the four London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon and Sutton, is Dr Roy Palmer. The deputy coroner is Mrs Selena Lynch.

What do coroners do?

Coroners must inquire into deaths reported to them if the death was violent, unnatural, or sudden and of unknown cause, or if the person died in prison, police custody or similar circumstances.

A coroner normally has jurisdiction relating to a death only if the body is physically in their district.  It doesn't matter where the death occurred, but where the body is now. The coroner may have to inquire into deaths that occurred abroad if the body is returned to England. However, if a body is cremated abroad, there is no need to hold an inquest if only cremated remains are brought back.

If someone dies in England but the body is to be taken abroad, the coroner must be informed so that an "Out of England" certificate can be issued.

What is the role of the coroner?

When someone dies the death has to be registered.  If a registered medical practitioner is able to sign a medical certificate of the cause of death in a form acceptable to the Registrar of Deaths (giving a medical cause that is regarded as 'natural'), the death will usually be registered and there will be no referral to HM Coroner.

In all other circumstances, the death will be reported to the coroner, either by the Registrar of Deaths or by others, such as a doctor, police officer or family member.

Location of the Coroner's Court

The Coroner's Court is in the basement of the Magistrates' and Coroner's Court building in Barclay Road, Croydon (not to be confused with the Crown and County Law Courts building on the corner of Barclay and Altyre Roads). The Court is not far from East Croydon train and bus stations. Car parking is available in nearby public car parks (between the court and the Fairfield Halls).

Given prior notice, limited parking for disabled people may be available outside the court. 

Contact Details

Contact name

Coroner's Office for Croydon & Sutton

Telephone

020 8684 2758

Fax

020 8684 2796

Address

150 Thornton Road
Thornton Heath
Surrey
CR7 6BB

Location: This office is near the Thornton Road entrance to the Croydon Cemetery and Crematorium.

Contact name

Coroners Office

Telephone

020 8681 5019

Fax

020 8686 3491

Email

hmc@southlondoncoroner.org

Address

Coroner's Court
H.M. Coroner
Southern District of Greater London
Coroner's Court
Barclay Road
Croydon
CR9 3NE

Contact name

Coroner's Office for Bromley & Bexley

Telephone

020 8315 7580

Fax

020 8315 7588

Address

Kingfisher House
21-23 Elmfield Road
Bromley
BR1 1LT

Location: This office is close to Bromley South rail station and to the main shopping area in Bromley.