Legislation – Coroners and Justice Act 2009

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Introduction

Part 1
Coroners

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 becomes clear before inquest

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

9A Surrender of electronic communications devices by jurors

9B Surrender of electronic communications devices: powers of search etc

9C Inquests without jury to be conducted at hearing or in writing

Outcome of investigation

10 Determinations and findings to be made

Suspension

11 Duty or power to suspend or resume investigations

Deaths related to the Northern Ireland Troubles

11A Investigations and inquests into Troubles-related deaths

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

Miscellaneous

16 Investigations lasting more than a year

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

Chapter 2 Notification, certification and registration of deaths

18 Notification by medical practitioner to senior coroner

18A Medical examiners: England

18B Medical examiners: Wales

19 Medical examiners : supplementary

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

43 Coroners regulations

44 Treasure regulations

45 Coroners rules

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

47 “Interested person”

48 Interpretation: general

49 Amendments to the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959

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

51 Public funding for advocacy at certain inquests

Part 2
Criminal offences

Chapter 1 Murder, infanticide and suicide

52 Persons suffering from diminished responsibility (England and Wales)

53 Persons suffering from diminished responsibility (Northern Ireland)

54 Partial defence to murder: loss of control

55 Meaning of “qualifying trigger”

56 Abolition of common law defence of provocation

57 Infanticide (England and Wales)

58 Infanticide (Northern Ireland)

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

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

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

86 Witness anonymity orders

87 Applications

88 Conditions for making order

89 Relevant considerations

90 Warning to jury

91 Discharge or variation of order

92 Discharge or variation after proceedings

93 Discharge or variation by appeal court

94 Special provisions for service courts

95 Public interest immunity

96 Power to make orders under the 2008 Act

97 Interpretation of this Chapter

Chapter 3 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

104 Examination of accused through intermediary

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

111 Effect of admission of video recording

112 Admissibility of evidence of previous complaints

113 Powers in respect of offenders who assist investigations and prosecutions

114 Bail: risk of committing an offence causing injury

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

116 Indictment of offenders

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

Part 4
Sentencing

Chapter 1 Sentencing Council for England and Wales

118 Sentencing Council for England and Wales

119 Annual report

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

125 Sentencing guidelines: duty of court

126 Determination of tariffs etc

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

133 Assistance by the Lord Chancellor

134 Entrenchment of Lord Chancellor’s functions

135 Abolition of existing sentencing bodies

136 Interpretation of this Chapter

Chapter 2 Other provisions relating to sentencing

137 Extension of driving disqualification

138 Dangerous offenders: terrorism offences (England and Wales)

139 Dangerous offenders: terrorism offences (Northern Ireland)

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 1A Investigations and inquests into Troubles-related deaths

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

Changes to legislation:

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Part 2Criminal offences

Chapter 3Other offences

70Genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes

(1)

The International Criminal Court Act 2001 (c. 17) is amended as follows.

(2)

In sections 53 and 60 (trial and punishment of main offences), after subsection (6) add—

“(7)

Subsections (5) and (6) are subject to section 65B (restriction of penalties in relation to retrospective application of certain offences).”

(3)

After section 65 insert—

“65ARetrospective application of certain offences

(1)

Sections 51 and 58 apply to acts committed on or after 1 January 1991.

(2)

But those sections do not apply to a crime against humanity, or a war crime within article 8.2(b) or (e), committed by a person before 1 September 2001 unless, at the time the act constituting that crime was committed, the act amounted in the circumstances to a criminal offence under international law.

(3)

Section 52 applies to conduct in which a person engaged on or after 1 January 1991, and in subsections (2) and (3) of that section references to an offence include an act or conduct which would not constitute an offence under the law of England and Wales but for this section.

(4)

Section 59 applies to conduct in which a person engaged on or after 1 January 1991, and in subsections (2) and (3) of that section references to an offence include an act or conduct which would not constitute an offence under the law of Northern Ireland but for this section.

(5)

Any enactment or rule of law relating to an offence ancillary to a relevant Part 5 offence—

(a)

applies to conduct in which a person engaged on or after 1 January 1991, and

(b)

applies even if the act or conduct constituting the relevant Part 5 offence would not constitute such an offence but for this section.

(6)

But sections 52 and 59, and any enactment or rule of law relating to an offence ancillary to a relevant Part 5 offence, do not apply to—

(a)

conduct in which the person engaged before 1 September 2001, or

(b)

conduct in which the person engaged on or after that date which was ancillary to an act or conduct which—

(i)

was committed or engaged in before that date, and

(ii)

would not constitute a relevant Part 5 offence, or fall within section 52(2) or 59(2), but for this section,

unless, at the time the person engaged in the conduct, it amounted in the circumstances to a criminal offence under international law.

(7)

Section 65, so far as it has effect in relation to relevant Part 5 offences—

(a)

applies to failures to exercise control of the kind mentioned in section 65(2) or (3) which occurred on or after 1 January 1991, and

(b)

applies even if the act or conduct constituting the relevant Part 5 offence would not constitute such an offence but for this section.

(8)

But section 65, so far as it has effect in relation to relevant Part 5 offences, does not apply to a failure to exercise control of the kind mentioned in section 65(2) or (3) which occurred before 1 September 2001 unless, at the time the failure occurred, it amounted in the circumstances to a criminal offence under international law.

(9)

In this section “relevant Part 5 offence” means an offence under section 51, 52, 58 or 59 or an offence ancillary to such an offence.

65BModification of penalties: provision supplemental to section 65A

(1)

In the case of a pre-existing E&W offence committed before 1 September 2001, in section 53(6) “30 years” is to be read as “14 years”.

(2)

In the case of an offence of the kind mentioned in section 55(1)(d) which is ancillary to a pre-existing E&W offence committed before 1 September 2001, nothing in section 53(5) and (6) disapplies the penalties provided for in sections 4 and 5 of the Criminal Law Act 1967.

(3)

In the case of a pre-existing NI offence committed before 1 September 2001, in section 60(6) “30 years” is to be read as “14 years”.

(4)

In the case of an offence of the kind mentioned in section 62(1)(d) which is ancillary to a pre-existing NI offence committed before 1 September 2001, nothing in section 60(5) and (6) disapplies the penalties provided for in sections 4 and 5 of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967.

(5)

In this section—

pre-existing E&W offence” means—

(a)

an offence under section 51 on account of an act constituting genocide, if at the time the act was committed it also amounted to an offence under section 1 of the Genocide Act 1969;

(b)

an offence under section 51 on account of an act constituting a war crime, if at the time the act was committed it also amounted to an offence under section 1 of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 (grave breaches of the Conventions);

(c)

an offence of a kind mentioned in section 55(1)(a) to (c) which is ancillary to an offence within paragraph (a) or (b) above;

pre-existing NI offence” means—

(a)

an offence under section 58 on account of an act constituting genocide, if at the time the act was committed it also amounted to an offence under section 1 of the Genocide Act 1969;

(b)

an offence under section 58 on account of an act constituting a war crime, if at the time the act was committed it also amounted to an offence under section 1 of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 (grave breaches of the Conventions);

(c)

an offence of a kind mentioned in section 62(1)(a) to (c) which is ancillary to an offence within paragraph (a) or (b) above.”

(4)

After section 67 insert—

“67ASupplemental provision about UK residents

(1)

To the extent that it would not otherwise be the case, the following individuals are to be treated for the purposes of this Part as being resident in the United Kingdom—

(a)

an individual who has indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom;

(b)

any other individual who has made an application for such leave (whether or not it has been determined) and who is in the United Kingdom;

(c)

an individual who has leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for the purposes of work or study and who is in the United Kingdom;

(d)

an individual who has made an asylum claim, or a human rights claim, which has been granted;

(e)

any other individual who has made an asylum claim or human rights claim (whether or not the claim has been determined) and who is in the United Kingdom;

(f)

an individual named in an application for indefinite leave to remain, an asylum claim or a human rights claim as a dependant of the individual making the application or claim if—

(i)

the application or claim has been granted, or

(ii)

the named individual is in the United Kingdom (whether or not the application or claim has been determined);

(g)

an individual who would be liable to removal or deportation from the United Kingdom but cannot be removed or deported because of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 or for practical reasons;

(h)

an individual—

(i)

against whom a decision to make a deportation order under section 5(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 by virtue of section 3(5)(a) of that Act (deportation conducive to the public good) has been made,

(ii)

who has appealed against the decision to make the order (whether or not the appeal has been determined), and

(iii)

who is in the United Kingdom;

(i)

an individual who is an illegal entrant within the meaning of section 33(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 or who is liable to removal under section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;

(j)

an individual who is detained in lawful custody in the United Kingdom.

(2)

When determining for the purposes of this Part whether any other individual is resident in the United Kingdom regard is to be had to all relevant considerations including—

(a)

the periods during which the individual has been or intends to be in the United Kingdom,

(b)

the purposes for which the individual is, has been or intends to be in the United Kingdom,

(c)

whether the individual has family or other connections to the United Kingdom and the nature of those connections, and

(d)

whether the individual has an interest in residential property located in the United Kingdom.

(3)

In this section—

asylum claim” means—

(a)

a claim that it would be contrary to the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Refugee Convention for the claimant to be removed from, or required to leave, the United Kingdom, or

(b)

a claim that the claimant would face a real risk of serious harm if removed from the United Kingdom;

Convention rights” means the rights identified as Convention rights by section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998;

detained in lawful custody” means—

(a)

detained in pursuance of a sentence of imprisonment, detention or custody for life or a detention and training order,

(b)

remanded in or committed to custody by an order of a court,

(c)

detained pursuant to an order under section 2 of the Colonial Prisoners Removal Act 1884 or a warrant under section 1 or 4A of the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984,

(d)

detained under Part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983 or by virtue of an order under section 5 of the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 or section 6 or 14 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (hospital orders, etc),

(e)

detained by virtue of an order under Part 6 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (other than an order under section 60C) or a hospital direction under section 59A of that Act, and includes detention by virtue of the special restrictions set out in Part 10 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 to which a person is subject by virtue of an order under section 59 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, or

(f)

detained under Part 3 of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 or by virtue of an order under section 11 or 13(5A) of the Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980;

human rights claim” means a claim that to remove the claimant from, or to require the claimant to leave, the United Kingdom would be unlawful under section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (public authority not to act contrary to Convention) as being incompatible with the person’s Convention rights;

the Refugee Convention” means the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28 July 1951 and the Protocol to the Convention;

serious harm” has the meaning given by article 15 of Council Directive 2004/83/EC on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted;

and a reference to having leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom is to be construed in accordance with the Immigration Act 1971.

(4)

This section applies in relation to any offence under this Part (whether committed before or after the coming into force of this section).”

F171Slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72Conspiracy

(1)

In section 1A of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45)
(conspiracy to commit offences outside the United Kingdom)—

(a)

in the title and in subsection (2), for “the United Kingdom” substitute
England and Wales
, and

(b)

for subsection (14) substitute—

“(14)

Nothing in this section applies to an agreement entered into before 4 September 1998.

(15)

In relation to an agreement entered into during the period beginning with that date and ending with the commencement of section 72(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, this section applies as if in subsection (2) for “England and Wales” there were substituted
the United Kingdom
.

(16)

Nothing in this section imposes criminal liability on any person acting on behalf of, or holding office under, the Crown.”

(2)

In Article 9A of the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/1120 (N.I. 13))
(conspiracy to commit offences outside the United Kingdom)—

(a)

in the title and in paragraph (2), for “the United Kingdom” substitute
Northern Ireland
, and

(b)

for paragraph (14) substitute—

“(14)

Nothing in this Article applies to an agreement entered into before 4 September 1998.

(15)

In relation to an agreement entered into during the period beginning with that date and ending with the commencement of section 72(2) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, this Article applies as if in paragraph (2) for “Northern Ireland” there were substituted
the United Kingdom
.

(16)

Nothing in this Article imposes criminal liability on any person acting on behalf of, or holding office under, the Crown.”

73Abolition of common law libel offences etc

The following offences under the common law of England and Wales and the common law of Northern Ireland are abolished—

(a)

the offences of sedition and seditious libel;

(b)

the offence of defamatory libel;

(c)

the offence of obscene libel.