Coroners are independent judicial officers, appointed by the local authority within the coroner area. Local authorities have a legal obligation to support the work of Coroner’s, to fund all the costs of the service and to provide the necessary resources to enable them to carry out their statutory obligations under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. This includes the provision of appropriate contractual arrangements for the removal of the deceased. For the four Kent coroner areas of Mid Kent & Medway, North-West Kent, North-East Kent and Central & South-East Kent, KCC is the lead authority for the administrative areas of Kent and Medway.
There are two requirements for this service:
Lot 1: Coroner Removals Service
Lot 2: Coroner Transfers Service
The Coroners Removals Service (Lot 1) has been separated into 15 contract areas:
1 (A) - Sevenoaks A (above A25)
1 (B) - Sevenoaks B (below A25)
1 (C) - Dartford & Gravesham
1 (D) - Tunbridge Wells
1 (E) - Tonbridge and Malling
1 (F) - Medway
1 (G) - Maidstone
1 (H) - West Swale
1 (I) - East Swale
1 (J) - Ashford
1 (K) - Canterbury
1 (L) - Shepway
1 (M) - Thanet
1 (N) - Dover NEK
1 (O) - Dover CSEK
The Coroners Removals Service includes the provision of appropriate contractual arrangements for the removal of the deceased to a designated mortuary. The movement of the deceased to the mortuary constitutes a “Coroners Removal”.
Where an organisation is awarded a contract area, they are responsible for providing this service throughout the specified area. They must deliver this service 24/7, 365 days a year, and in accordance with the service requirements as detailed within the specification.
The Coroners Transfers Service (Lot 2) has been separated into 2 contract areas:
2 (A) West Kent Transfers
2 (B) East Kent Transfers
In certain circumstances, it is necessary to transfer the deceased from a designated mortuary to another designated mortuary. These transfers can occur locally as a transfer between mortuaries within Kent and Medway but can occur outside of Kent.
Where an organisation is awarded a contract area, they are responsible for providing this service throughout the specified area. They must deliver this service 24/7, 365 days a year, and in accordance with the service requirements as detailed within the specification.