The HM Coroners team Avon are based at the Coroners Court at Flax Bourton.

Their objectives are:

• To manage all bereavements in the HM coroners Avon effectively and in a timely manner.
• To provide a quality, professional service.
• To offer information and help in processes associated with bereavement.

They are employed by the Constabulary and are specialists in their field, providing a vital community contact role with bereaved families and are the link between police officers, hospitals and HM coroner Avon who is based at Flax Bourton.

They manage, on behalf of HM Coroner, all sudden, unexpected or unnatural deaths to which a doctor cannot issue certification. They also manage all deaths that result from trauma and all hospital-related deaths.

They currently deal with over 5,000 deaths per year in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset districts.

Their role is to establish, normally by post mortem, whether the death is natural or unnatural in the eyes of the law. If the death is unnatural then they cause further investigations to be undertaken with a view to presenting a case to go before the Coroner at inquest.

Police officers as first investigators are vital to ensure that the coroners team meet objectives of timely investigation and management of deaths requiring an inquest.

Any one of the team will be able to assist you.

The team are there to help and can be contacted by:

Telephone - 01275 461920

Fax - 01275 461820

Email: coroners.officers@bristol.gov.uk