The Coroner's Service in England and Wales carries out a legal process of enquiry to find out the cause and circumstances of a death.                             

The area covered by H M Coroner for the Eastern District of West Yorkshire includes a whole of Wakefield, Leeds and Pontefract and surrounding areas with a population of well over a million residents, not including people who work in the district but live elsewhere. 

Her Majesty's Coroner is an independent judicial officer appointed to investigate all sudden, violent and unexplained deaths of persons who have either died in, or whose bodies are brought into, the area. In certain cases the Coroner must hold an inquest to determine who, when, how and in what circumstances a person has died.

The Coroner's Office deals with approximately 5000 reported deaths and approximately 550 inquests per year.

H M Coroners

H M Coroners for the Eastern District of West Yorkshire are as follows: 

H M Coroner: David Hinchliff LLB, LLM, Dip FMSA

Coroner's Office and Court
71 Northgate
Wakefield
WF1 3BS

Tel: 01924 302180

H M Deputy Coroner: Melanie J Williamson, LL.B, Barrister-at-Law

H M Assistant Deputy Coroners:
Mary T Burke, LLB, Solicitor
Kevin McLoughlin, MA, Barrister