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:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, Schedule 20. Help about Changes to Legislation

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Changes to Legislation

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Schedules

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

Section 175

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Part 2Assessment notices

5

(1)

Section 48 of that Act (rights of appeal) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1) after “enforcement notice” insert
, an assessment notice
>.

(3)

In subsection (3)—

(a)

after “enforcement notice” insert
, an assessment notice
>, and

(b)

after “40(8)” insert
, 41B(2)
>.

6

In section 67 of that Act (general provision about orders etc under the Act)—

(a)

in subsection (4) insert at the appropriate place—

“section 41A(2)(c),”, and

(b)

in subsection (5)(a) insert at the appropriate place—

“section 41A(2)(b),”.

7

In section 70(1) of that Act (supplementary definitions) for the definition of “government department” substitute—

““government department”includes—

(a)

any part of the Scottish Administration;

(b)

a Northern Ireland department;

(c)

the Welsh Assembly Government;

(d)

any body or authority exercising statutory functions on behalf of the Crown.”

Part 3Powers to require information

8

(1)

Section 43 of that Act (information notices) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (1) for “, within” to the end substitute
to furnish the Commissioner with specified information relating to the request or to compliance with the principles.
>

(3)

After that subsection insert—

“(1A)

In subsection (1)
specified information” means information—

(a)

specified, or described, in the information notice, or

(b)

falling within a category which is specified, or described, in the information notice.

(1B)

The Commissioner may also specify in the information notice—

(a)

the form in which the information must be furnished;

(b)

the period within which, or the time and place at which, the information must be furnished.”

(4)

In subsection (4) for “the time” to “expire” substitute
a period specified in an information notice under subsection (1B)(b) must not end, and a time so specified must not fall,
>.

9

(1)

Section 44 of that Act (special information notices) is amended as follows.

(2)

in subsection (1) for “, within” to the end substitute
to furnish the Commissioner with specified information for the purpose specified in subsection (2).
>

(3)

After subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)

In subsection (1)
specified information” means information—

(a)

specified, or described, in the special information notice, or

(b)

falling within a category which is specified, or described, in the special information notice.

(1B)

The Commissioner may also specify in the special information notice—

(a)

the form in which the information must be furnished;

(b)

the period within which, or the time and place at which, the information must be furnished.”

(4)

In subsection (5) for “the time” to “expire” substitute
a period specified in a special information notice under subsection (1B)(b) must not end, and a time so specified must not fall,
.

Part 4Restriction on use of information

10

(1)

Section 43 of that Act (information notices) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (8), for “other than an offence under this Act,” substitute
, other than an offence under this Act or an offence within subsection (8A),
.

(3)

After that subsection insert—

“(8A)

The offences mentioned in subsection (8) are—

(a)

an offence under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911 (false statements made otherwise than on oath),

(b)

an offence under section 44(2) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)
(Scotland) Act 1995 (false statements made otherwise than on oath), or

(c)

an offence under Article 10 of the Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (false statutory declarations and other false unsworn statements).

(8B)

Any relevant statement provided by a person in response to a requirement under this section may not be used in evidence against that person on a prosecution for any offence under this Act (other than an offence under section 47) unless in the proceedings—

(a)

in giving evidence the person provides information inconsistent with it, and

(b)

evidence relating to it is adduced, or a question relating to it is asked, by that person or on that person’s behalf.

(8C)

In subsection (8B)
relevant statement”, in relation to a requirement under this section, means—

(a)

an oral statement, or

(b)

a written statement made for the purposes of the requirement.”

11

(1)

Section 44 of that Act (special information notices) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (9), for “other than an offence under this Act,” substitute
, other than an offence under this Act or an offence within subsection (9A),
.

(3)

After subsection (9) of that section insert—

(9A)

“(9A)

The offences mentioned in subsection (9) are—

(a)

an offence under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911 (false statements made otherwise than on oath),

(b)

an offence under section 44(2) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)
(Scotland) Act 1995 (false statements made otherwise than on oath), or

(c)

an offence under Article 10 of the Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (false statutory declarations and other false unsworn statements).

(9B)

Any relevant statement provided by a person in response to a requirement under this section may not be used in evidence against that person on a prosecution for any offence under this Act (other than an offence under section 47) unless in the proceedings—

(a)

in giving evidence the person provides information inconsistent with it, and

(b)

evidence relating to it is adduced, or a question relating to it is asked, by that person or on that person’s behalf.

(9C)

In subsection (9B)
relevant statement”, in relation to a requirement under this section, means—

(a)

an oral statement, or

(b)

a written statement made for the purposes of the requirement.”

12

(1)

Paragraph 11 of Schedule 7 to that Act (miscellaneous exemptions: self incrimination) is amended as follows.

(2)

In sub-paragraph (1), for “other than an offence under this Act,” substitute
, other than an offence under this Act or an offence within sub-paragraph (1A),
.

(3)

After that sub-paragraph insert—

“(1A)

The offences mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) are—

(a)

an offence under section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911 (false statements made otherwise than on oath),

(b)

an offence under section 44(2) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)
(Scotland) Act 1995 (false statements made otherwise than on oath), or

(c)

an offence under Article 10 of the Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (false statutory declarations and other false unsworn statements).”

Part 5Monetary penalties: restriction on matters to be taken into account

13

In section 55A of that Act (power of Commissioner to impose monetary penalties), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A)

The Commissioner may not be satisfied as mentioned in subsection (1) by virtue of any matter which comes to the Commissioner’s attention as a result of anything done in pursuance of—

(a)

an assessment notice;

(b)

an assessment under section 51(7).”

Part 6Warrant for entry and inspection

14

(1)

Schedule 9 to that Act (powers of entry and inspection) is amended as follows.

(2)

After sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 1 insert—

“(1A)

Sub-paragraph (1B) applies if a circuit judge or a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) is satisfied by information on oath supplied by the Commissioner that a data controller has failed to comply with a requirement imposed by an assessment notice.

(1B)

The judge may, for the purpose of enabling the Commissioner to determine whether the data controller has complied or is complying with the data protection principles, grant a warrant to the Commissioner in relation to any premises that were specified in the assessment notice; but this is subject to sub-paragraph (2) and paragraph 2.”

(3)

In sub-paragraph (3) of that paragraph—

(a)

for “sub-paragraph (1)” substitute
this Schedule
, and

(b)

for the words from “to enter” to the end substitute“—

(a)

to enter the premises;

(b)

to search the premises;

(c)

to inspect, examine, operate and test any equipment found on the premises which is used or intended to be used for the processing of personal data;

(d)

to inspect and seize any documents or other material found on the premises which—

(i)

in the case of a warrant issued under sub-paragraph (1), may be such evidence as is mentioned in that paragraph;

(ii)

in the case of a warrant issued under sub-paragraph (1B), may enable the Commissioner to determine whether the data controller has complied or is complying with the data protection principles;

(e)

to require any person on the premises to provide an explanation of any document or other material found on the premises;

(f)

to require any person on the premises to provide such other information as may reasonably be required for the purpose of determining whether the data controller has contravened, or is contravening, the data protection principles.”

(4)

After sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 insert—

“(1A)

In determining whether the Commissioner has given an occupier the seven days’ notice referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(a) any assessment notice served on the occupier is to be disregarded.”

(5)

In paragraph 5 for “evidence in question would not be found” substitute
object of the warrant would be defeated
.

(6)

In paragraph 12, at the end of paragraph (b) insert—

“(c)

makes a statement in response to a requirement under paragraph (e) or (f) of paragraph 1(3) which that person knows to be false in a material respect, or

(d)

recklessly makes a statement in response to such a requirement which is false in a material respect,”.

(7)

After paragraph 15 add—

“Self-incrimination

16

An explanation given, or information provided, by a person in response to a requirement under paragraph (e) or (f) of paragraph 1(3) may only be used in evidence against that person—

(a)

on a prosecution for an offence under—

(i)

paragraph 12,

(ii)

section 5 of the Perjury Act 1911 (false statements made otherwise than on oath),

(iii)

section 44(2) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)
(Scotland) Act 1995 (false statements made otherwise than on oath), or

(iv)

Article 10 of the Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (false statutory declarations and other false unsworn statements), or

(b)

on a prosecution for any other offence where—

(i)

in giving evidence that person makes a statement inconsistent with that explanation or information, and

(ii)

evidence relating to that explanation or information is adduced, or a question relating to it is asked, by that person or on that person’s behalf.”