1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Dorset (Coroners) Order 1997 and shall come into force on 1st April 1997.

(2) In this Order "the 1988 Act" means the Coroners Act 1988(2).

2.-(1) There shall be a single coroner's district, called the Bournemouth, Poole and Eastern Dorset Coroner's District, for the Counties of Bournemouth and Poole (which counties come into existence on 1st April 1997 by virtue of article 8(2) and (3) of the Dorset (Boroughs of Poole and Bournemouth) (Structural Change) Order 1995(3)) and for so much of the County of Dorset as is not included in the Western Dorset Coroner's District.

(2) The Council of the Borough of Bournemouth shall be the relevant council within the meaning of section 1(1A) of the 1988 Act(4) for the coroner's district constituted by paragraph (1) above.

(3) The person who, at 31st March 1997, is the coroner for the existing Eastern Dorset Coroner's District shall be deemed on 1st April 1997 to be appointed coroner for the coroner's district constituted by paragraph (1) above.

(4) Any agreement between the person to whom paragraph (3) above applies and Dorset County Council (as the relevant council for the purposes of section 1 of the 1988 Act prior to 1st April 1997) as to his salary and pension as a coroner shall be deemed on and after 1st April 1997 to have effect as if originally made between him and Bournemouth Borough Council.

(5) Any person who, at 31st March 1997, is a deputy or assistant deputy coroner for the existing Eastern Dorset Coroner's District shall be deemed on 1st April 1997 to be appointed deputy or, as the case may be, assistant deputy coroner for the coroner's district constituted by paragraph (1) above.

3.-(1) On 1st April 1997, any process issued, order made, direction given, inquest begun or other thing done by or to the coroner for the existing Eastern Dorset Coroner's District shall be deemed to have been issued, made, given, begun or done by or to the coroner for the coroner's district constituted by article 2(1) above.

(2) All documents, exhibits, registers and other things in the custody of the coroner for the existing Eastern Dorset Coroner's District in connection with inquests or post-mortem investigations shall be transferred to the coroner for the coroner's district constituted by article 2(1) above.

(3) In this article "coroner" includes any deputy coroner or assistant deputy coroner.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes the provision about coroners in consequence of the creation of the Counties of Bournemouth and Poole by article 8 of the Dorset (Boroughs of Poole and Bournemouth) (Structural Change) Order 1995 on 1st April 1997.

Article 2(1) of this Order combines those new counties with part of the County of Dorset to form a single coroner's district. Article 2(2) makes the Bournemouth Borough Council the relevant council within the meaning of section 1 of the Coroners Act 1988. The relevant council is responsible for the appointment of coroners and has other functions in connection with coroners under that Act. Article 2(3) provides for the person who, on 31st March 1997, holds the office of coroner for the Eastern Dorset Coroner's District to continue as coroner for the new coroner's district.

Article 3 makes transitional arrangements to ensure continuity as respects the coroner for the new coroner's district.