UNDERSTANDING INQUESTS

This book is an appropriate and very welcome reference work for a wide range of readers from legal professionals to those parties directly involved in inquests as relatives and friends. It is also a much needed source of support and information during a time of personal crisis for many.

In his Foreword, David Ramsbotham succinctly sums up the contemporary controversy, calling for the urgent need for a comprehensive new Coroners Bill. As with all Legal Action Group publications, this title is very well written and is set out in such a way as to give the reader the maximum help in finding what is being looked for in the 21 chapters.

I welcome the short index for each individual chapter, the detailed index and the excellent 4 appendices covering current legislation, useful resources, some examples of narrative directions given to juries by coroners and a sample of excellent draft letters.

In one of the most difficult areas dealing with aspects of what happens after unexplained death, often at a highly charged and emotional time, Thomas, Straw and Friedman of Garden Court, Tooks, and Matrix Chambers respectively have produced the only main text which deals with the practice and procedure of the coroner’s court from the point of view of those acting for the bereaved…and it is done with great feeling.

I know that the lasting value of this book will be to highlight the case for a more just, fair and effective system because recent events have shown the need for immediate reform of the system, to bring back confidence for those who feel let down by confusing procedures which have lead to suggestions of cover-ups at recent inquests.

As always the professional, Lord Ramsbotham has summed up the problem when he says that many feel “this is one part of our legal system that is not functioning as well as it could and should”.

The Legal Action Group is to be commended for bringing out this new edition, six years after the original publication. I hope whatever type of new government we have after 2010 will implement this new legislation expeditiously and fairly now that the effects of article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights have been judged and incorporated into law.

The writing team has rightly dedicated this work to all the brave families facing these processes, and now is the time to act to support them with sensible reforming legislation based on the last chapter to back up this unique and valuable work- let’s see the Parliamentarians get it right for a change! ( )

This book examines the practice and procedure of the coroners court from the standpoint of a practitioner acting for the bereaved. But, further, it lends a powerful voice to the debate for a more humane and effective inquest system, where the human rights of victims and their families are properly respected.