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25
[1932
CORONER'S COURT, INQUESTS, AND MORTUARY.
In December, 1930, the Borough Council received a memorandum from the
Coroner pointing out some disadvantages connected with the existing buildings
and containing suggestions for improving the Court and Mortuary. The cost
involved in carrying out the Coroner's suggestions was estimated at £2,350,
excluding the cost of fittings. The Borough Council later had before them
amended plans to carry out improvements estimated to cost £1,500. In November,
1931, the London County Council informed the Borough Council that they were
considering the question of inquest accommodation in the County of London, and
that under the Coroners' Amendment Act of 1926 the districts of these Coroners
had been re-arranged and reduced in number from seven to six; that the exercise
of the extended powers conferred on the Coroners had resulted in a large reduction
in the number of inquests held, and that consequently some of the courts had
become redundant. After consulting the Coroner for the northern district, the
London County Council intimated that they proposed to retain the St. Pancras
Coroner's Court and Hackney Coroner's Court and to cease to utilise the Islington
and Hampstead Courts in the future, but before coming to a final decision, asked
the views of the Islington Borough Council on the matter. On the 19th December,
1931, the Islington Borough Council informed the County Council that they
strongly objected to the proposal to discontinue the holding of inquests at the
Islington Coroner's Court having regard to the population and importance of the
Borough, its central position among the boroughs on the north side of the Thames,
its accessibility by tube, tram, bus and railway, and the additional facilities that
could be made available in the Coroner's Court and Mortuary both for the Coroner
and the medical profession for inquest purposes, at comparatively small expense.
As the result of representations made, representatives of the London County
Council met representatives of the Islington Borough Council at the Coroner's
Court and Mortuary, and suggestions were made on behalf of the Borough Council
in regard to effecting improvements estimated to cost, as before-mentioned,
£1,500. On the 18th March, 1932, the London County Council intimated that
having given careful consideration to the representations made, it had been
decided that on the understanding that the Coroner might in special circumstances
make other arrangements, the Islington Court should be one of the places at which
inquests should in future be held in the northern district. Since then, however, no
inquests have been held at the Islington Coroner's Court, and upon the London
County Council being so informed, they intimated in June, 1932, that they were
advised that a Coroner appeared to have absolute discretion as to the places at
which an inquest should be held, provided it was not held at premises licenced for
the sale of intoxicating liquor. At the same time the Coroner informed the Town
Clerk that he found no need to use the building, that he was not waiting for any
improvements to be put in hand, and that he did not feel this was a time for
expenditure of public money on a Court which is not used simply to make it possible
to use it.
During the year 52 bodies were received into the Mortuary, as compared with
an average of 288 in the preceding 10 years.
The daily average number of bodies received was 0.1, whilst in 1931 the
average was 0.6.
No inquests were held, as contrasted with an average of 245 in the ten years
1922-31.