What does the coroner do?
The role of coroner has existed from around the 12th century. The position of Birmingham Coroner is a relatively new one, having been in existence from around 1838, when the newly created Birmingham Corporation sought to establish their own quarter sessions and as a result of this, the position of Coroner.
Prior to around 1838, inquests for deaths in Birmingham would have been held in Warwickshire, as Birmingham reported to the Warwickshire Quarter Sessions. The role of the coroner’s court is:
- to investigate sudden or suspicious deaths which are reported to him/her,
- to deal with applications to transport a body to another country for burial or cremation
- to investigate cases of Treasure Trove (the discovery of buried coin or other valuables).
