The Coroners and Justice Act of 2009 and the postcode lottery

The coroner and inquest system dates back to the 10th century but continues to face criticism and debate. This research evaluates whether the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 has reduced regional disparities – often described as a ‘postcode lottery’. Using Ministry of Justice data from 2000 to 2021, we compared 2 periods: 2000–2013 under the Coroners Act 1988, and 2014–2021 under the 2009 Act, alongside data from 10 jurisdictions. Findings show the 2009 Act has not significantly changed reporting rates or the proportion of cases proceeding to inquest. Processing times increased nationwide, and the number of inquests varied inconsistently across regions. While the coronial system remains an essential part of governance it continues to exhibit structural limitations. The 2009 Act acknowledges operational challenges but fails to provide sufficient clarity and consistency, and this contributes to ongoing regional variations and prevents a uniform delivery of coronial services across England and Wales.