Country's Chief Coroner opens city's new Coroner's Court

HM Coroner's Courts, located in Sunderland's new City Hall, boast state-of-the-art facilities and technology and have the needs of families attending the inquests of their loved ones very much at heart. These include a private Family Room for those attending an inquest of a family member.

The Coroner's Court complex also includes two courtrooms, one of which is large enough to hold jury inquests, together with a Jury Room with its own kitchen and ensuite washroom, as well as offices for HM Senior Coroner for the City of Sunderland and Deputy Chief Coroner of England and Wales, Mr Derek Winter DL and his staff.

New technology means that inquests held in the Court are now largely paperless, with referrals coming in via a web portal with the ability to attach photos and documents. Documents can now be shared on screen at Inquests rather than being passed around, and all documents are electronically signed and sent to Registrars, making for a much more efficient system.

The allocation of a Coroner's Officer to see each case through from beginning to end also makes the process much smoother and better for families, who know who to contact with any queries.

For Mr Winter, who in his role as Senior Coroner for the City of Sunderland oversees Investigations into violent, sudden or suspicious deaths, and inquiries into cases of treasure trove, the gleaming new Coroner's Courts is a far cry from when he started out as Sunderland Coroner in 2003.

He said: "When I was appointed coroner in 2003, I worked from my solicitors' practice, the coroner's officers were based at the police station, and inquest hearings would be heard at a variety of random venues. These included Sunderland and Houghton Magistrates' Courts, an office in the practice, the marriage ceremonies room and committee rooms at the Civic Centre and serviced office accommodation elsewhere in Sunderland.

"In 2009 Sunderland Coroner's Service moved in its entirety to the Civic Centre to be co-located with Registration Services, and in 2012 we were given our own Court.

"Sunderland City Council has been enormously supportive of the work of the Coroner and truly put the bereaved at the heart of the process, and the facilities here at City Hall are brilliant as are my whole team. We've been heavily involved with the layout which now allows us to have two Inquests running at the same time, and it's a total improvement for families who now have their own space with a private family room."

Speaking after the opening of the city's new Coroner's Courts, Mr Winter, who was appointed Deputy Chief Coroner for England and Wales in 2019: "It was wonderful to have His Honour Judge Teague QC open Sunderland's new Coroner's Courts and to be able to show him around the fantastic facilities we have in our new Courts.

"I was also delighted to welcome my fellow Deputy Chief Coroner Her Honour Judge Alexia Durran and to have two senior coroners and five assistant coroners from other coroner areas sworn in by Ms Catherine Yallop, Legal Adviser to the Chief Coroner, during the visit."

His Honour Judge Teague QC said: "I am delighted to be opening the new Sunderland Coroner's Court. The facilities that have been put in place are excellent and a real testament to the importance the Local Authority place on this vital public service. They are an example for other local coroner services to follow."

Sunderland City Hall is set to be the workplace of around 2,000 workers from the City Council and a range of support organisations, providing a modern and central location for residents looking to access assistance from providers including Sunderland City Council, Sunderland College and the Department for Work & Pensions.   

It is one of three buildings that is being funded by Legal & General, as part of its £100m commitment to Riverside Sunderland. It plays a key part in Sunderland City Council's Riverside Sunderland Masterplan, which is set to create one million sq ft of modern offices and workspace for 8 - 10,000 new jobs, as well as 1,000 new homes for a community of 2,500 people with beautiful landscape parks and green public spaces in the heart of the city.

To find out more about City Hall and the wider Riverside Sunderland development, visit www.riversidesunderland.com or follow RiversideSund on social media.