Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (25 025 020)
Category : Other Categories > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 23 Apr 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about misuse of coronial documentation. The law does not allow us to investigate.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council has failed to act despite acknowledging a misuse of coronial documentation. He says this had obstructed an investigation into a death. He wants the Council to address the matter and ensure appropriate governance of coronial administration.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- We cannot investigate complaints about actions which are not the administrative function of a Council. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(1) as amended).
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complained that Coroner’s office documentation had been incorrectly used in relation to a private post-mortem. He says the Council has failed to act on his concerns.
- A coroner’s duties and functions under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, remain the coroner’s despite being appointed and paid by the council. Matters occurring in relation to any tasks on behalf of a coroner, or as part of the coroner’s statutory functions, or role, are in the exercise of the coroner’s functions, not those of the council, including governance of that role.
- We cannot investigate this complaint because the matters complained about relate to coronial functions, not an administrative function of the Council.
- The Council correctly signposted Mr X to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) if dissatisfied. The JCIO is the appropriate body to consider a complaint about the administrative practices of the Coroner’s office or the conduct of its staff.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we have no power to do so.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman