The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the actions of the coroner’s office. We do not have the power to investigate the actions of the coroner or the coroner’s office which completes administrative tasks on the coroner’s behalf.
The complaint
Ms X complains about the actions of the coroner’s office. She says coroner’s office staff did not show her and her family respect or empathy and did not communicate key information and decisions to her or the police. This caused her and her family distress. She wants the Council to apologise to her and her family and to improve its service.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
We investigate complaint about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as the coroner. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34A, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
We cannot investigate this complaint. Although the Council provides staff for the coroner’s office, these staff are working on behalf of a coroner as part of the coroner’s statutory functions relating to coronial investigations. When undertaking their duties, coroner’s officers are exercising the coroner’s functions, not those of the council. We cannot, therefore, consider complaints about those actions.
Ms X also complains about delays in the complaints process. We will not investigate this as it is not a good use of resources to investigate complaints about complaints handling, when we cannot investigate the substantive matter.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because we have no power to investigate the actions of the coroner or those undertaking tasks on the coroner’s behalf.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman