Information about deaths that are sudden, unexpected, violent or unnatural and those that occur in legal custody.
The role of a coroner
A coroner is an independent judicial office holder, appointed by a local council. Coroners usually have a legal background but will also be familiar with medical terms.
Coroners investigate deaths reported to them if it appears:
- The death was violent or unnatural;
- The cause of death is unknown; or
- The person died in prison, police custody or another type of state detention.
In these cases coroners must investigate to find out, for the benefit of bereaved people and for official records, who has died and how, when and where they died.
Coroners also deal with finds that may be classified as treasure.
North Yorkshire and York Coroner
The Senior Coroner for both North Yorkshire and the City of York is Mr Jon Heath. Find the contact details for Mr Jon Heath.
Post-mortem examination
If a coroner decides an investigation is necessary, a pathologist will normally carry out a post-mortem examination of the body.
The coroner must release the body as soon as possible, after which you can arrange the funeral. You should let the coroner know in writing if you wish to take the body outside of England and Wales.
If the post-mortem examination shows the cause of death, the coroner will send a form to the registrar of births and deaths stating the cause of death. You can then make an appointment to register the death.
Inquest
If it was not possible to find out the cause of death from the post-mortem examination, or the death is found to be unnatural, the coroner must hold an inquest. An inquest is a public court hearing held by the coroner to establish who died and where, when and how they died.
The inquest will be held as soon as possible and normally within six months of the death if at all possible. The coroner will notify you if more time is needed and what to expect in your case.
If the death occurred in prison or custody, or if it resulted from an accident at work, the inquest will usually have a jury.
At the end of the inquest
The coroner or jury comes to a conclusion at the end of an inquest. This includes the legal determination, which states who died and where, when and how they died. The coroner or jury also makes 'findings' to allow the cause of death to be registered. The coroner or jury may use one of the following terms when recording the cause:
- accident or misadventure;
- alcohol / drug related;
- industrial disease;
- lawful killing;
- natural causes;
- open;
- road traffic collision;
- stillbirth;
- suicide; or
- unlawful killing.
The coroner or jury may also make a brief 'narrative' conclusion to provide more detail about facts surrounding the death and explain the reasons for the decision.
The coroner will send a form to the registrar after the inquest is complete. The registrar will then register the death based on the coroner's findings. You do not need to visit our office for this to occur. Copies of the death certificate can be ordered here four to five days after the inquest.
Frequently asked questions
Details of upcoming coroners' inquests in North Yorkshire can be found below.
By virtue of section 9C of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, some Inquests may be dealt with in writing (i.e. without a hearing in court) unless representations are made by email to coroners.admin@northyorks.gov.uk no later than midday the day before the date shown in the list.
Inquests in writing
Date of inquest | Name | Further details |
---|---|---|
- |
Upcoming hearings
Date, location and time | Name | Further details |
---|---|---|
Friday 3 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings (commencing at 9:30am) | |
Luise Frieda Elle Acton | Died aged 97 on 27 January 2023 at York Hospital | |
David Tinsdale | Died aged 76 on 28 July 2022 at Scarborough General Hospital | |
Inquests | ||
David Wood (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 85 on 9 August 2022 at York Hospital | |
Brian Howard Gregg (commencing at 11am) | Died aged 68 on 13 October 2022 at Masham | |
Harold Scotter (commencing at 11:30am) | Died aged 81 on 17 October 2022 at Scarborough General Hospital | |
Stephen George Roberts (commencing at 12:15pm) | Died aged 68 on 11 October 2022 at York Hospital | |
Dennis Bailey (commencing at 2pm) | Died aged 78 on 7 April 2021 at Friarage Hospital | |
David Tinsdale (commencing at 3pm) | Died aged 76 on 28 July 2022 at Scarborough General Hospital | |
Monday 6 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
John Anthony Ibbotson (Day 1, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 57 on 21 September 2020 at Skipton | |
Tuesday 7 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
John Anthony Ibbotson (Day 2, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 57 on 21 September 2020 at Skipton | |
Wednesday 8 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
John Anthony Ibbotson (Day 3, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 57 on 21 September 2020 at Skipton | |
Thursday 9 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Audrey Marigold Wilkinson (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 80 on 28 September 2022 at Thirsk | |
Elizabeth Anne Watson (commencing at 10:30am) | Died aged 76 on 5 June 2022 at Whitby | |
Stephen Whitehead commencing at 11:15am) | Died aged 72 on 4 December 2022 at York Hospital | |
David James Hayward (commencing at 11:45am) | Died aged 20 on 11 December 2022 at Scarborough | |
Leanne Rachel Foyle (commencing at 12:15pm) | Died aged 38 on 22 August 2022 at Whitby | |
Barnaby James Roe (commencing at 2pm) | Died aged 51 on 27 June 2022 at Little Smeaton | |
Friday 10 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
John Alexander Mountain (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 83 on 14 July 2022 at York | |
Shirley Hopwood (commencing at 11am) | Died aged 87 on 18 August 2022 at St James' Hospital, Leeds | |
Graham Craven (commencing at 1pm) | Died aged 72 on 13 September at York Hospital | |
Brenda Muriel Cross (commencing at 2pm) | Died aged 85 on 1 February 2021 at York | |
Monday 13 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Kamal Mohammed Kamal Abed (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 51 on 5 February 2022 at York Hospital | |
Tuesday 14 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Mark Geoffrey Edmondson (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 51 on 8 February 2022 at York Hospital | |
Nancy Sheila Hotham (commencing at 11:30am) | Died aged 91 on 29 May 2022 at Scarborough General Hospital | |
Ryan Adcock (commencing at 12:30pm) | Died aged 45 on 2 October 2022 at Thirsk | |
Alan Bristow (commencing at 1:30pm) | Died aged 74 on 28 October 2022 at York Hospital | |
Brian Brown (commencing at 2pm) | Died aged 87 on 20 November 2022 at Harrogate District Hospital | |
David Steel (commencing at 2:45pm) | Died aged 58 on 10 September 2022 at York Hospital | |
Wednesday 15 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Pre Inquest Review | ||
Dawn Ann Marie Cain (commencing at 2pm) | Died aged 55 on 21 July 2022 at York Hospital | |
Inquests | ||
Helen Marie Mills (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 40 on 13 April 2022 at Selby | |
Flora Isabelle Hespin (commencing at 11:30am) | Died aged 94 on 12 November 2022 at Knaresborough | |
Friday 17 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Mark Andrew Nicol (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 38 on 13 June 2021 at York | |
Karen Louise Anderson (commencing at 12:30pm) |
Died aged 50 on 1 August 2022 at Harrogate District Hospital | |
Belinda Ann Frank (commencing at 1:30pm) | Died aged 65 on 1 September 2022 at York Hospital | |
Mary Horsey (commencing at 2pm) | Died aged 73 on 23 September 2022 at Bedale | |
Monday 20 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Ralph Ernest Francis Harness (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 86 on 6 October 2021 at York Hospital | |
Elaine Thornton (commencing at 12pm) | Died aged 58 on 22 July 2022 at York | |
Jerzy Lukasik (commencing at 2pm) | Died aged 60 on 29 December 2020 at Selby | |
Tuesday 21 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Max Trevor Beeston (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 22 on 15 April 2022 at York Hospital | |
Wednesday 22 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
John Christopher Walker (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 88 on 27 March 2022 at Leeds General Infirmary | |
Thursday 23 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Lesley Ann Neve (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 94 on 30 September 2021 at Ripon | |
Monday 27 February 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Pre Inquest Review | ||
David James Parker (commencing at 1pm) | Died aged 49 on 21 September 2021 at Green Hammerton | |
Inquests | ||
Christopher George Rowntree (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 75 on 5 September 2021 at Scarborough | |
Doris Macdonald (commencing at 3pm) | Died aged 90 on 22 October 2021 at York Hospital | |
Wednesday 1 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Joan Loudon (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 87 on 13 September 2022 at Ripon | |
Mary Elizabeth Wilkinson (commencing at 11am) | Died aged 71 on 25 November 2022 at York Hospital | |
Monday 6 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Roger Martin Gray (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 79 on 20 June 2021 at York | |
Tuesday 7 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Callum Lambert (commencing at 9:30am) | Died aged 20 on 4 December 2021 at Leeds General Infirmary | |
Aidan Tomlinson (1:30pm) | Died aged 18 on 3 December 2021 at Settle | |
Wednesday 8 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Cash Anthony O’Dea (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 30 on 3 February 2022 at York | |
Monday 13 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Pre Inquest Review Hearing | ||
Carole McQuinn (commencing at 10am) |
Died aged 66 on 7 May 2022 at York Hospital | |
Inquests | ||
No current inquests | ||
Tuesday March 14 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Martin James Davies (commencing at 1:30pm) | Died aged 84 on 16 May 2022 at Scarborough General Hospital | |
Nicholas Grant Seabourne (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 77 on 8 August 2022 at Filey | |
Wednesday March 15 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Adam Emanuel Brooklyn Angels (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 24 on 29 May 2022 at Bolton Abbey | |
Bettina Hanna Barbara Ebel (commencing at 12pm) | Died aged 59 on 26 November 2022 at York | |
Mihail Surmei (commencing at 11am) | Died aged 21 on 4 June 2022 at Malton | |
Hilde Anne Elle Wood (commencing at 2pm) | Died aged 92 on 15 December 2021 at Harrogate District Hospital | |
Monday 20 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Peter Brown (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 48 on 21 January 2021 at Scarborough | |
Tuesday 21 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Peter Brown (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 48 on 21 January 2021 at Scarborough | |
Wednesday 22 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Peter Brown (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 48 on 21 January 2021 at Scarborough | |
Monday 27 March 2023 at The Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate HG2 8NZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Betty Elizabeth Smith (Day 1, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 73 on 29 January 2020 at Osbaldwick | |
Tuesday 28 March 2023 at The Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate HG2 8NZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Betty Elizabeth Smith (Day 2, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 73 on 29 January 2020 at Osbaldwick | |
Tuesday 28 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Simon Bartholomew Geoffrey Howard (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 66 on 27 February 2022 at York Hospital | |
Wednesday 29 March 2023 at The Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate HG2 8NZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Betty Elizabeth Smith (Day 3, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 73 on 29 January 2020 at Osbaldwick | |
Wednesday 29 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Timothy John Lewis (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 78 on 14 May 2022 at York Hospital | |
Thursday 30 March 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Dawn Ann Marie Cain (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 55 on 21 July 2022 at York Hospital | |
Tuesday, 4 April 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Peter Jonathan Hewitt Newbon (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 38 on 15 January 2022 at Malton | |
Jeanette Allison Cox (commencing at 11:30am) | Died aged 48 on 20 February 2022 at Harrogate | |
Tuesday, 11 April 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Andrew Pickering (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 57 on 3 February 2022 at Pateley Bridge | |
Wednesday, 19 April 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Nathan William Evison (Day 1, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 19 on 11 September 2019 at Malton | |
Thursday, 20 April 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Nathan William Evison (Day 2, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 19 on 11 September 2019 at Malton | |
Wednesday, 10 May 2023 at Coroners Court at 3 Racecourse Lane, Northallerton DL7 8QZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
Nathan Faircloth (commencing at 10am) | Died aged 24 on 2 September 2020 at Scarborough General Hospital | |
Christopher Kenneth Jordan (commencing at 1:30pm) | Died aged 69 on 2 January 2022 at Harrogate District Hospital | |
Monday 19 June 2023 at The Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate HG2 8NZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
McCauley Reece Brend (Day 1, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 25 on 10 June 2021 at Darlington Memorial Hospital | |
Tuesday 20 June 2023 at The Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate HG2 8NZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
McCauley Reece Brend (Day 2, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 25 on 10 June 2021 at Darlington Memorial Hospital | |
Wednesday 21 June 2023 at The Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate HG2 8NZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
McCauley Reece Brend (Day 3, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 25 on 10 June 2021 at Darlington Memorial Hospital | |
Thursday 22 June 2023 at The Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate HG2 8NZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
McCauley Reece Brend (Day 4, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 25 on 10 June 2021 at Darlington Memorial Hospital | |
Friday 23 June 2023 at The Pavilions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate HG2 8NZ | Inquest openings | |
No current openings | ||
Inquests | ||
McCauley Reece Brend (Day 5, commencing at 10am) | Died aged 25 on 10 June 2021 at Darlington Memorial Hospital |
Any timings given for individual inquests are approximate.
In most cases a death will not need to be reported to a coroner. A hospital doctor or GP can certify the medical cause of death and the death can be registered by the registrar in the usual way.
The police, a registrar, doctor or other person must report deaths to the coroner in the following circumstances:
- During the last illness a doctor did not attend the deceased or the doctor treating the deceased had not seen him or her either after death or within the 14 days before death;
- The death was violent, unnatural or occurred under suspicious circumstances;
- The cause of death is not known or uncertain;
- The death was caused by an industrial disease or related in any way to the deceased's employment;
- The death occurred in prison or police custody;
- The deceased was detained under the Mental Health Act;
- The death may be linked to an accident (wherever it occurred);
- If there is any question of self-neglect or neglect by others;
- The death may have been contributed to by the actions of the deceased (such as an overdose, self-injury, drug or solvent abuse);
- The deceased was receiving any form of war pension or industrial disability pensions unless the death can be shown to be wholly unconnected;
- The death took place within 24 hours of admission to hospital;
- The death may be related to a medical procedure or treatment (whether invasive or not);
- The death may be due to a lack of medical care;
- The death occurred while the patient was undergoing an operation or did not recover from the anaesthetic;
- The death was linked to an abortion;
- Where there are any allegations of medical mis-management; or
- The case has any other unusual or disturbing features.
Organ donation
If you wish to consider organ donation, you will need immediate advice. This can be sought from a hospital or doctor, or from the coroner's officer. The coroner must be told and must agree before organs can be removed. In some cases, organ donation may not be possible for medical reasons or because of delays when a death has to be investigated.
Anyone considering applying to move a body that has been interred should, in the first instance, discuss their proposals with the appropriate local church official or undertaker.
The person applying for consent to disinter remains needs to show:
- The presumed intention of those who committed the body or ashes to a last resting place is to be disregarded or overborne; and
- The length of time since the interment has been considered (a prompt application is stronger than one made where the remains have been undisturbed for many months or years).
In every case, the arguments for consent will be weighed against these general principles and against the desire to maintain the churchyard or place set aside for the interment or cremated remains.
If you wish to take the body abroad, you must give written notice to the coroner, who will tell you within four days whether further enquiries are needed. You can give written notice to the coroner using this form (pdf / 120 KB).
If you wish to bring the body back to England or Wales, the coroner may need to be involved. In certain circumstances, an inquest may be necessary. You can ask for advice from your local coroner's office.
An 'interested person' can apply to the coroner after the inquest for copies of documents. The coroner will have told you whether you are an 'interested person' before the inquest.
There may be a fee payable for copies of documents:
Document | Cost |
---|---|
Document disclosed by email | Free |
Document of ten pages or less disclosed as a paper copy | £5 |
Each subsequent page above ten disclosed as a paper copy | £0.50 per page |
Document disclosed by any other means other than email or paper | £5 per document |
Transcription of an inquest consisting of 360 words or less | £6.20 |
Transcription of an inquest consisting of between 361 and 1,439 words | £13.10 |
Transcription of an inquest consisting of 1,440 words or more (for the first 1,440 words) | £13.10 |
Transcription of an inquest consisting of 1,440 words or more (each additional 72 words or part thereof) | £0.70 |
coroner@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.
In the first instance, please contact a coroners' officer by emailingFor all enquiries about the listing of Inquests, payment of invoices, witness and juror expenses and historical cases please email coronersadmin@northyorks.gov.uk
Coroner - Mr J R Heath
The Old Courtroom
3 Racecourse Lane
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL7 8QZ
Tel: 01609 533843
Coroners' officers contact details
Senior coroners officer - Rachel Davies
Email: rachel.davies@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
The North Yorkshire coroners' officers are located in the following police stations:
Area | Coroners' officers address |
---|---|
Harrogate | Harrogate Police Station Beckwith Head Road Beckwith Harrogate HG3 1FR |
Scarborough | Scarborough Police Station Northway Scarborough YO12 7AD |
Selby | Selby Police Station Portholme Road Selby North Yorkshire YO8 4QQ |
Skipton | Skipton Police Station Otley Road Skipton North Yorkshire BD23 1EZ |
York | York Police Station Fulford Road York YO10 4BY |
If you find something that may be treasure you must report all finds to the coroner within:
- 14 days after the day you made the find; or
- 14 days after the day you realised the find might be treasure (for example, as a result of having it identified).
Everyone is required to report finds, including archaeologists.
The definition of treasure
The following finds are classed as treasure under the Treasure Act 1996:
Coins
All coins from the same find count as treasure if they are at least 300 years old when found. If the coins contain less than ten per cent of gold or silver, there must be at least ten of them to count as treasure.
Objects other than coins
Any other object may count as treasure if it contains at least ten per cent of gold or silver and is at least 300 years old when found. Note that objects with gold or silver plating normally have less than ten per cent of precious metal.
An object or coin is part of the same find as another object or coin if it is found in the same place as, or had previously been left together with, the other object. Finds may have become scattered since they were originally deposited in the ground.
Only the following groups of coins will normally be regarded as coming from the same find:
- Hoards that have been deliberately hidden;
- Smaller groups of coins, such as the contents of purses, that may have been dropped or lost; and
- Votive or ritual deposits.
Objects that would have been treasure trove
An object that would previously have been treasure trove, but does not fall within the specific categories given, must be made substantially of gold or silver and have been buried with the intention of recovery. You must be also be unable to trace the object's owner or their heirs.
Associated objects
An associated object, whatever it is made of, is found in the same place as, or had previously been together with, another object that is treasure.
The following types of find are not treasure:
- Objects whose owners can be traced;
- Unworked natural objects, including human and animal remains, even if they are found in association with treasure; and
- Objects from the foreshore, which are wreck.
If you are in doubt about whether an object counts as treasure, it is safest to report your find.
How to report a find of treasure
You may report your find to the coroner in person or by letter or telephone. The coroner's officer will send you an acknowledgement and tell you where you should take your find.
Where to take your find
You will normally be asked to take your find to a local museum or archaeological body. The person who receives the find on behalf of the coroner will give you a receipt. They will need to know where you made the find, but they will keep this information confidential if you (or the landowner) wish. You should also keep the information confidential.
The person receiving the find will notify the Sites and Monuments Record as soon as possible (if that has not already happened) so archaeologists can investigate the site if necessary.
If you fail to report a find of treasure
If you fail to report a find of treasure you could be imprisoned for up to three months or receive a fine of up to £5,000, or both. You will not be breaking the law if you do not report a find because you do not initially recognise it may be treasure, but you should report it once you do realise this.
If the find is not treasure
If the object is clearly not treasure, the museum or archaeological body will inform the coroner.
If the find is treasure
If the museum curator or archaeologist believes the find may be treasure, they will inform the British Museum. The museum will then decide whether they or any other museum may wish to acquire it.
If no museum wishes to acquire the find, the coroner will usually notify the occupier and landowner the office intends to return the object to the finder after 28 days unless an objection is received. If the coroner receives an objection, the find will be retained until the dispute has been settled.
If a museum wants to acquire the find
If a museum wants to acquire part or all of a find, the coroner will hold an inquest to decide whether it is treasure. The coroner will inform the finder, occupier and landowner and they will be able to question witnesses at the inquest. Treasure inquests will normally be held without a jury.
If the find is declared to be treasure, it will be taken to the British Museum so it can be valued.
Receiving a fair price for the find
Any find of treasure a museum wishes to acquire must be valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee, which consists of independent experts who will commission a valuation. You, together with the museum that wishes to acquire the find and any other interested party, will have an opportunity to comment on the valuation and to send in a separate valuation of your own, before the committee makes its recommendation. If you are dissatisfied you can appeal to the Secretary of State.
Loss or damage to the find
The coroner or museum is required to take reasonable steps to ensure the find is not lost or damaged. In the unlikely event this happens, you should be compensated.
Receiving the reward
The person who receives the reward is set out in detail in a Code of Practice. To summarise:
- Those eligible to receive rewards are the finder(s) and landowner and / or occupier. Where the finder has permission to search for and remove artefacts on the land where the find was made, the finder will receive their full share of the reward. The finder is responsible to prove permission was granted. It is normal practice to divide rewards equally between the finder and landowner on a 50:50 basis unless another agreement has been reached between them. If the finder makes an agreement with the landowner/occupier to share a reward, the Secretary of State will normally follow it.
- If the finder does not remove the whole of a find from the ground but allows archaeologists to excavate the remainder of the find, the original finder will normally be eligible for a reward for the whole find.
- Rewards will not normally be payable when an archaeologist makes the find.
- Where the finder has committed an offence regarding to a find, has trespassed, or has not followed best practice as set out in the Code of Practice, they may expect no reward at all or a reduced reward. Landowners and occupiers will be eligible for rewards in such cases.
The Code of Practice states you should receive a reward within one year of you having delivered your find, although this may take longer in the case of very large finds or those that present special difficulties.
An inquest can be a traumatic experience for anyone involved and we understand that the Coroners Court can be a bewildering place to attend.
The Coroners Courts Support Service
On the day of the inquest there will be a volunteer from the Coroners Courts Support Service. This is an independent Charity founded in 2003 and they provide trained volunteers offering free confidential emotional support to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending an inquest at the Coroners Court.
They can also signpost you to other appropriate organisations and prior to the inquest they can give you support and information. You call call their helpline on 03001112141 (open from 9am to 7pm weekdays and 9am to 2pm on Saturday) or email helpline@ccss.org.uk.
For more information visit the Coroners Courts Support Service website.
The Guide to coroner services
The Guide to coroner services is intended for bereaved people and others who may be affected by a coroner investigation or are attending a coroner’s inquest.
For more information visit the Guide to coroner services website.
If the Senior Coroner has written to you as a family member, asking you whether you wish to attend the inquest or not, please ensure you reply by indicating your wishes. Please also let the Coroners administration office know if you will have any particular individual need when you attend.
The Senior Coroner may permit remote participation and/or observation. If you wish this, please let the Coroners administration office know in advance.
Most inquests are held in Northallerton at:
The Old Courtroom
3 Racecourse Lane
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL7 8QZ
If the venue is to be at another building, you will be told this in a letter before the Inquest.
There is usually ample parking at this site and it is a 5 minute level walk from Northallerton station.
Please enter the building, there is disabled access, and there is a waiting area for those attending in the entrance hall. Volunteers from the Coroners’ Court Support Service will be available and expecting you, so please make yourself known to them.
Please let the Coroners’ Court Support Service volunteer know whether you have any special requirements, including particulars of any Holy Book you may need, if you are to give evidence.
There are toilets (including disabled) available. Please ask the member of the Coroners Court Support Service to let you through the security door.
There are no catering facilities on site. There are cafes and restaurants in and around the town centre which is a 10 minute walk.
Every effort will be made to start and conclude matters within the allocated hearing time. All Inquest hearings are in public, and the press is entitled to attend and report upon them.
In court
No food or drink is allowed in court. Please ensure you switch off all electronic devices including mobile phones.
It is a criminal offence to take photographs or videos/video clips or make audio recordings in Court whether with a camera, mobile telephone, video recorder or any other device.