§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether any studies have been undertaken into coroners employing their own officers;
(2) why coroners' officers have to be employed by a police force.
§ Mr. HurdHome Office circular 93 of 1985 drew attention of county councils to a review of the work and methods of coroners' officers carried out by the Home Office organisation and methods branch and recommended that in consultation with coroners and chief officers of police they should review their own arrangements for the provision of coroners' officers. A copy of the circular and of the review are in the Library. The review had studied inter alia areas where, at that time, civilianisation had taken place. There is no requirement that civilian coroners' officers must be employed by a police authority, although that is the option we prefer.