§ Mr. WoolasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue guidance to police forces and coroners in respect of investigation into apparent suicides. [45130]
§ Mr. MichaelWe have no plans to issue any guidance to the police or coroners on the conduct of their inquiries into deaths by apparent suicide. All such deaths are already subject to thorough investigation and reported to the coroner. The police will conduct initial inquiries into any death in suspicious circumstances. If the police are satisfied that no offence has been committed, it is for the coroner to decide what inquiries (beyond, for example, witness statements taken by the police) may be needed. This may include further information about the cause of death or the circumstances in which the death occurred.
The conduct of the coroner's inquiries is a matter for the coroner. The courts have held, though, that, to bring a verdict of suicide, the coroner or his jury needs to be satisfied in accordance with the criminal standard of proof (beyond reasonable doubt), rather than the normal civil standard. This is likely to require some indication that the deceased intended to take his or her own life.
While it is not for the coroner to establish the particular reason why the deceased may have killed him or herself, it may be necessary to seek to establish that there was some motivation for the suicide. Where there is documentary evidence in connection with this issue (ie notes or letters left by the deceased), the Coroners Rules provide for documentary evidence made by a deceased person to be admitted in evidence, but such documentary evidence need not be read aloud if the coroner so directs. Most coroners will publicly disclose only as much as may be necessary from such "suicide notes" for the purpose of the inquest.