Poll reveals public support for Chief Coroner’s role to help bereaved Service families
22 October 2010
Charities to meet with Minister on Monday
An overwhelming majority of people believe the role of Chief Coroner is vital to ensuring bereaved Service families receive the help they deserve when the deaths of their loved ones are investigated, a poll published today reveals.
Ninety per cent believe it is important there should be a Chief Coroner for bereaved Armed Forces families to appeal to if they disagree with a coroner's decision in the case of the death of their loved one.
Eighty-five per cent of people agree that it is important that there is one person with overall responsibility for the coroner's system who has expertise in military inquests, the authority to make improvements and responsibility for training.
The ComRes poll, conducted for The Royal British Legion, also reveals that 92% agree that bereaved Armed Forces families who cannot afford their own lawyer at a military inquest should be given independent and cost-free assistance.
"The British public has shown it sees this role as vital in ensuring bereaved Service families can have confidence in the investigations of their loved ones' deaths. We believe it is fundamental to the inquest process and to the fulfillment of the Military Covenant", said Chris Simpkins, Director General, The Royal British Legion.
The poll findings come as The Royal British Legion and other charities are due to meet with the Minister for Justice on Monday 25 October to discuss the abolition of the role of the Chief Coroner. This decision was announced last week as part of the Government's "bonfire of the quangos", with the planned appeals process also cut.
Chris Simpkins added: "The Legion provides support to bereaved Service families through its Independent Inquest Advice service, but the Government needs to do its bit too. This function is not what most people would think of as an unnecessary 'quango'.
"We cannot believe Ministers have appreciated the implications of the decision for the families of those who have died serving their country, and are looking for the interests of Service families to be properly represented."
The role of Chief Coroner was introduced only in 2009, in an Act of Parliament passed with cross-party support. It followed a long campaign by the Legion for reforms to the inquest process to help bereaved Service families.
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Notes to Editors:
ComRes interviewed 1,001 GB adults by telephone between
15th and 17th October 2010. Data were weighted to be representative
demographically of all GB adults. ComRes is a member of the British
Polling Council and abides by its rules (www.britishpollingcouncil.org).
Data tables may be found at www.comres.co.uk.
The Royal British Legion is the nation's leading Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem, the red poppy. www.britishlegion.org.uk
For further information please contact:
Susan Cottam | Public Relations Officer
The Royal British Legion | 199 Borough High Street | London | SE1
1AA
Tel. 020 3207 2477
Mob.07775 017889
scottam@britishlegion.org.uk
