Coroner' investigate deaths that have been reported to them if they have reason to think that:
- the death was violent or unnatural
- the cause of death is unknown; or
- the deceased died while in prison, police custody or another type of state detention such as an immigration centre or while detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
When a death is reported to a Coroner, he or she:
- firstly establishes whether an investigation is required
- if yes, investigates to establish the identify of the person who has died, how, when and where they died, and any information required to register the death; and
- uses information discovered during the investigation to assist in the prevention of other deaths where possible
