Legislation – Coroners and Justice Act 2009

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Introduction

Part 1
Coroners etc

Chapter 1 Investigations into deaths

Duty to investigate

1 Duty to investigate certain deaths

Investigation by other coroner

2 Request for other coroner to conduct investigation

3 Direction for other coroner to conduct investigation

Discontinuance of investigation

4 Discontinuance where cause of death revealed by post-mortem examination

Purpose of investigation

5 Matters to be ascertained

Inquests

6 Duty to hold inquest

7 Whether jury required

8 Assembling a jury

9 Determinations and findings by jury

Outcome of investigation

10 Determinations and findings to be made

Suspension

11 Duty or power to suspend or resume investigations

Death of service personnel abroad

12 Investigation in Scotland

13 Investigation in England and Wales despite body being brought to Scotland

Ancillary powers of coroners in relation to deaths

14 Post-mortem examinations

15 Power to remove body

Chapter 2 Notification, certification and registration of deaths

18 Notification by medical practitioner to senior coroner

19 Medical examiners

20 Medical certificate of cause of death

21 National Medical Examiner

Chapter 3 Coroner areas, appointments etc

22 Coroner areas

23 Appointment etc of senior coroners, area coroners and assistant coroners

24 Provision of staff and accommodation

Chapter 4 Investigations concerning treasure

25 Coroner for Treasure and Assistant Coroners for Treasure

26 Investigations concerning treasure

27 Inquests concerning treasure

28 Outcome of investigations concerning treasure

29 Exception to duty to investigate

30 Duty to notify Coroner for Treasure etc of acquisition of certain objects

31 Code of practice under the Treasure Act 1996

Chapter 5 Further provision to do with investigations and deaths

32 Powers of coroners

33 Offences

34 Allowances, fees and expenses

Chapter 6 Governance etc

35 Chief Coroner and Deputy Chief Coroners

36 Reports and advice to the Lord Chancellor from the Chief Coroner

37 Regulations about training

38 Medical Adviser and Deputy Medical Advisers to the Chief Coroner

39 Inspection of coroner system

40 Appeals to the Chief Coroner

41 Investigation by Chief Coroner or Coroner for Treasure or by judge, former judge or former coroner

42 Guidance by the Lord Chancellor

Chapter 7 Supplementary

Regulations and rules

43 Coroners regulations

44 Treasure regulations

45 Coroners rules

Coroner of the Queen’s household

46 Abolition of the office of coroner of the Queen’s household

Interpretation

47 “Interested person”

48 Interpretation: general

Northern Ireland and Scotland amendments

49 Amendments to the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959

50 Amendments to the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976

16 Investigations lasting more than a year

17 Monitoring of and training for investigations into deaths of service personnel

51 Public funding for advocacy at certain inquests

Part 2
Criminal offences

Chapter 1 Murder, infanticide and suicide

Partial defence to murder: diminished responsibility

52 Persons suffering from diminished responsibility (England and Wales)

53 Persons suffering from diminished responsibility (Northern Ireland)

Partial defence to murder: loss of control

54 Partial defence to murder: loss of control

55 Meaning of “qualifying trigger”

56 Abolition of common law defence of provocation

Infanticide

57 Infanticide (England and Wales)

58 Infanticide (Northern Ireland)

Suicide

59 Encouraging or assisting suicide (England and Wales)

60 Encouraging or assisting suicide (Northern Ireland)

61 Encouraging or assisting suicide: information society services

Chapter 2 Images of children

Prohibited images

62 Possession of prohibited images of children

63 Exclusion of classified film etc

64 Defences

65 Meaning of “image” and “child”

66 Penalties

67 Entry, search, seizure and forfeiture

68 Special rules relating to providers of information society services

Indecent pseudo-photographs of children

69 Indecent pseudo-photographs of children: marriage etc

Chapter 3 Other offences

70 Genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes

71 Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour

72 Conspiracy

73 Abolition of common law libel offences etc

Part 3
Criminal evidence, investigations and procedure

Chapter 1 Anonymity in investigations

74 Qualifying offences

75 Qualifying criminal investigations

76 Investigation anonymity orders

77 Applications

78 Conditions for making order

79 Appeal against refusal of order

80 Discharge of order

81 Delegation of functions

82 Public interest immunity

83 Review

84 Application to armed forces

85 Interpretation of this Chapter

Chapter 2 Anonymity of witnesses

Witness anonymity orders

86 Witness anonymity orders

87 Applications

88 Conditions for making order

89 Relevant considerations

90 Warning to jury

Discharge and variation

91 Discharge or variation of order

92 Discharge or variation after proceedings

93 Discharge or variation by appeal court

Service courts

94 Special provisions for service courts

Public interest immunity

95 Public interest immunity

The Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Act 2008

96 Power to make orders under the 2008 Act

Interpretation

97 Interpretation of this Chapter

Chapter 3 Vulnerable and intimidated witnesses

Special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses

98 Eligibility for special measures: age of child witnesses

99 Eligibility for special measures: offences involving weapons

100 Special measures directions for child witnesses

101 Special provisions relating to sexual offences

102 Evidence by live link: presence of supporter

103 Video recorded evidence in chief: supplementary testimony

Evidence of certain accused persons

104 Examination of accused through intermediary

Witnesses protected from cross-examination by accused in person

105 Age of child complainant

Chapter 4 Live links

106 Directions to attend through live link

107 Answering to live link bail

108 Searches of persons answering to live link bail

109 Use of live link in certain enforcement hearings

110 Direction of registrar for appeal hearing by live link

Chapter 5 Miscellaneous

Evidence by video recording

111 Effect of admission of video recording

Evidence of previous complaints

112 Admissibility of evidence of previous complaints

Immunity etc

113 Powers in respect of offenders who assist investigations and prosecutions

Bail

114 Bail: risk of committing an offence causing injury

115 Bail decisions in murder cases to be made by Crown Court judge

Unsigned indictments

116 Indictment of offenders

Detention of terrorist suspects

117 Detention of persons under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000

Part 4
Sentencing

Chapter 1 Sentencing Council for England and Wales

Sentencing Council for England and Wales

118 Sentencing Council for England and Wales

119 Annual report

Guidelines

120 Sentencing guidelines

121 Sentencing ranges

122 Allocation guidelines

123 Preparation or revision of guidelines in urgent cases

124 Proposals by Lord Chancellor or Court of Appeal

Duties of the court

125 Sentencing guidelines: duty of court

126 Determination of tariffs etc

Other functions of the Council

127 Resource implications of guidelines

128 Monitoring

129 Promoting awareness

130 Resources: effect of sentencing practice

131 Resources: effect of factors not related to sentencing

132 Duty to assess impact of policy and legislative proposals

Lord Chancellor’s functions

133 Assistance by the Lord Chancellor

134 Entrenchment of Lord Chancellor’s functions

Miscellaneous and general

135 Abolition of existing sentencing bodies

136 Interpretation of this Chapter

Chapter 2 Other provisions relating to sentencing

Driving disqualification

137 Extension of driving disqualification

Dangerous offenders

138 Dangerous offenders: terrorism offences (England and Wales)

139 Dangerous offenders: terrorism offences (Northern Ireland)

Confiscation orders

140 Appeals against certain confiscation orders (England and Wales)

141 Appeals against certain confiscation orders (Northern Ireland)

Part 5
Miscellaneous criminal justice provisions

142 Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses

143 Implementation of E-Commerce and Services directives: penalties

144 Treatment of convictions in other member States etc

145 Transfer to Parole Board of functions under the Criminal Justice Act 1991

146 Retention of knives surrendered or seized (England and Wales)

147 Retention of knives surrendered or seized (Northern Ireland)

148 Security in tribunal buildings

Part 6
Legal aid and other payments for legal services

149 Community Legal Service: pilot schemes

150 Excluded services: help in connection with business matters

151 Criminal Defence Service: information requests

152 Criminal Defence Service: enforcement of order to pay cost of representation

153 Statutory instruments relating to the Legal Services Commission

154 Damages-based agreements relating to employment matters

Part 7
Criminal memoirs etc

155 Exploitation proceeds orders

156 Qualifying offenders

157 Qualifying offenders: service offences

158 Qualifying offenders: supplementary

159 Relevant offences

160 Deriving a benefit

161 Applications

162 Determination of applications

163 Limits on recoverable amount

164 The available amount

165 Property

166 Effect of conviction being quashed etc

167 Powers of court on repeat applications

168 Additional proceeds reporting orders

169 Exploitation proceeds investigations

170 Functions of Serious Organised Crime Agency

171 Limitation

172 Interpretation of this Part

Part 8
Data Protection Act 1998

173 Assessment notices

174 Data-sharing code of practice

175 Further amendments of the Data Protection Act 1998 (c. 29)

Part 9
General

176 Orders, regulations and rules

177 Consequential etc amendments and transitional and saving provisions

178 Repeals

179 Financial provision

180 Effect of amendments to provisions applied for purposes of service law

181 Extent

182 Commencement

183 Short title

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 Duty or power to suspend or resume investigations

Schedule 2 Coroner areas

Schedule 3 Appointment etc of senior coroners, area coroners and assistant coroners

Schedule 4 Coroner for Treasure and Assistant Coroners for Treasure

Schedule 5 Powers of coroners

Schedule 6 Offences

Schedule 7 Allowances, fees and expenses

Schedule 8 Chief Coroner and Deputy Chief Coroners

Schedule 9 Medical adviser and Deputy medical advisers to the Chief Coroner

Schedule 10 Investigation by Chief Coroner or Coroner for Treasure or by judge, former judge or former coroner

Schedule 11 Amendments to the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959

Schedule 12 Encouraging or assisting suicide: providers of information society services

Schedule 13 Prohibited images: providers of information society services

Schedule 14 Schedule 1A to the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999

Schedule 15 The Sentencing Council for England and Wales

Schedule 16 Extension of disqualification for driving

Schedule 17 Treatment of convictions in other member States etc

Schedule 18 Motor vehicle orders

Schedule 19 Exploitation proceeds investigations

Schedule 20 Amendments of the Data Protection Act 1998 (c. 29)

Schedule 21 Minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 22 Transitional, transitory and saving provisions

Schedule 23 Repeals

Schedules

Schedule 14Schedule 1A to the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999

Section 99

The following is the Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 1A to the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (c. 23)

“Schedule 1ARelevant offences for the purposes of section 17

Murder and manslaughter

1

Murder in a case where it is alleged that a firearm or knife was used to cause the death in question.

2

Manslaughter in a case where it is alleged that a firearm or knife was used to cause the death in question.

3

Murder or manslaughter in a case (other than a case falling within paragraph 1 or 2) where it is alleged that—

(a)

the accused was carrying a firearm or knife at any time during the commission of the offence, and

(b)

a person other than the accused knew or believed at any time during the commission of the offence that the accused was carrying a firearm or knife.

Offences against the Person Act 1861 (c. 100)

4

An offence under section 18 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm etc) in a case where it is alleged that a firearm or knife was used to cause the wound or harm in question.

5

An offence under section 20 of that Act (malicious wounding) in a case where it is alleged that a firearm or knife was used to cause the wound or inflict the harm in question.

6

An offence under section 38 of that Act (assault with intent to resist arrest) in a case where it is alleged that a firearm or knife was used to carry out the assault in question.

7

An offence under section 47 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (assault occasioning actual bodily harm) in a case where it is alleged that a firearm or knife was used to inflict the harm in question.

8

An offence under section 18, 20, 38 or 47 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 in a case (other than a case falling within any of paragraphs 4 to 7) where it is alleged that—

(a)

the accused was carrying a firearm or knife at any time during the commission of the offence, and

(b)

a person other than the accused knew or believed at any time during the commission of the offence that the accused was carrying a firearm or knife.

Prevention of Crime Act 1953 (c. 14)

9

An offence under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 (having an offensive weapon in a public place).

Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27)

10

An offence under section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 (requirement of firearm certificate).

11

An offence under section 2(1) of that Act (possession etc of a shot gun without a certificate).

12

An offence under section 3 of that Act (business and other transactions with firearms and ammunition).

13

An offence under section 4 of that Act (conversion of weapons).

14

An offence under section 5(1) of that Act (weapons subject to general prohibition).

15

An offence under section 5(1A) of that Act (ammunition subject to general prohibition).

16

An offence under section 16 of that Act (possession with intent to injure).

17

An offence under section 16A of that Act (possession with intent to cause fear of violence).

18

An offence under section 17 of that Act (use of firearm to resist arrest).

19

An offence under section 18 of that Act (carrying firearm with criminal intent).

20

An offence under section 19 of that Act (carrying firearm in a public place).

21

An offence under section 20 of that Act (trespassing with firearm).

22

An offence under section 21 of that Act (possession of firearms by person previously convicted of crime).

23

An offence under section 21A of that Act (firing an air weapon beyond premises).

24

An offence under section 24A of that Act (supplying imitation firearms to minors).

Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)

25

An offence under section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (having article with blade or point in public place).

26

An offence under section 139A of that Act (having article with blade or point (or offensive weapon) on school premises).

Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (c. 38)

27

An offence under section 28 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (using someone to mind a weapon).

28

An offence under section 32 of that Act (sales of air weapons by way of trade or business to be face to face).

29

An offence under section 36 of that Act (manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation firearms).

General

30

A reference in any of paragraphs 1 to 8 to an offence (“offence A”) includes—

(a)

a reference to an attempt to commit offence A in a case where it is alleged that it was attempted to commit offence A in the manner or circumstances described in that paragraph,

(b)

a reference to a conspiracy to commit offence A in a case where it is alleged that the conspiracy was to commit offence A in the manner or circumstances described in that paragraph,

(c)

a reference to an offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 in relation to which offence A is the offence (or one of the offences) which the person intended or believed would be committed in a case where it is alleged that the person intended or believed offence A would be committed in the manner or circumstances described in that paragraph, and

(d)

a reference to aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of offence A in a case where it is alleged that offence A was committed, or the act or omission charged in respect of offence A was done or made, in the manner or circumstances described in that paragraph.

31

A reference in any of paragraphs 9 to 29 to an offence (“offence A”) includes—

(a)

a reference to an attempt to commit offence A,

(b)

a reference to a conspiracy to commit offence A,

(c)

a reference to an offence under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 in relation to which offence A is the offence (or one of the offences) which the person intended or believed would be committed, and

(d)

a reference to aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of offence A.

Interpretation

32

In this Schedule—

“firearm” has the meaning given by section 57 of the Firearms Act 1968;

“knife” has the meaning given by section 10 of the Knives Act 1997.”