Court Guide · Sources checked 13 September 2026 · England and Wales · coroner area
Statistics describe the coroner area, which can cover several council areas and buildings. Confirm the venue directly with the coroner’s officer; an area name is not an address.
Published service contact
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| Area | Base contact details (confirm the hearing venue) |
|---|---|
| West Yorkshire (Eastern) | Coroner’s Service, West Yorkshire (Eastern) Area, 71 Northgate, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 3BS | 01924 302180 | hmcoroner@wakefield.gov.uk |
Coroner activity by year
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| Year | Deaths reported (all recorded sexes, including unknown) | Inquests held | Prevention of future deaths reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,900 | 854 | 9 |
| 2024 | 3,325 | 1,150 | 12 |
| 2023 | 3,725 | 1,257 | 11 |
| 2022 | 3,733 | 945 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3,538 | 830 | 25 |
Published 2025 indicators
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| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated average inquest duration (weeks) | 21 |
| Inquests opened as a share of deaths reported | 29.28% |
| Post-mortems as a share of deaths reported | 44.52% |
How to interpret these figures
Duration is an estimate calculated from time bands, from a death being reported to an inquest conclusion or a decision that an adjourned inquest will not resume. It excludes deaths abroad and is not a prediction for your investigation. Case complexity and the mix of older cases affect comparisons.
The collection of prevention of future deaths reports began during 2021, so that year is incomplete for this measure.
Coroner-area boundaries and names have changed. Trends match the published area name, allowing punctuation differences only; a merged area is not treated as identical to its predecessor.
Useful next steps
Practical help: coroners and inquests
An inquest investigates specified questions about a death. It is different from a criminal trial or a civil compensation claim. The coroner’s officer is the starting point for arrangements and information about the investigation.
Confirm the investigation and contact
Keep the coroner service’s reference and contact details together. Ask which officer is dealing with the investigation and how updates will be provided. The service area may contain several hearing venues, so confirm the exact building or remote arrangements before travelling.
Understand your participation
Ask about your status in the process, access to relevant documents and how questions or concerns should be raised. Whether you can receive information or participate in a particular way depends on the process and your role. An inquest may also involve a pre-inquest review.
Prepare for the hearing day
Read the information the service sends, note the issues you want explained and arrange any access or communication support. An inquest can involve difficult evidence. Ask whether a supporter can attend with you and how breaks or other practical needs can be managed.
Find independent support
The Coroners’ Courts Support Service provides practical and emotional support at participating services. Specialist advice may be appropriate for complex issues or deaths in custody or state detention. Confirm the scope of any adviser’s help, funding and attendance arrangements.
Official guidance and related resources
Data sources
- Coroners statistics 2025 · checked 13 September 2026
- Guide to coroner services · checked 13 September 2026
- Ministry of Justice: guide to coroner statistics and duration estimates · checked 13 September 2026
- Courts and Tribunals Judiciary: coroner service contacts · checked 13 September 2026
Figures retain the source’s units and periods. Unknown or suppressed values are not treated as zero. Methods and coverage · Report a correction.