Philip Spinney is His Majesty’s Senior Coroner for the County of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay coroner area.
His Majesty’s Coroner holds office under the Crown and is an independent judicial officer.
The role of the Coroner is to investigate and record the causes and circumstances of all sudden deaths where the cause is not known, violent or unnatural and any death which occurred whilst the deceased was in lawful custody.
Investigations are carried out for the Coroner by the coroner’s officers appointed by Devon & Cornwall Police. Inquests, which can be attended by interested persons and sometimes expert witnesses, either in person or virtually, are usually held at County Hall, Exeter or Plymouth Coroner’s Court.
The newly formed jurisdiction of the County of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay covers the whole county (see map).
Area Coroner
Alison Longhorn