Waltham Forest to fund Met Police coroner officers from 2028
Council to contribute to salaries of 11 officers dealing with unexpected deaths across five boroughs.
Incident → evidence → outcomeWaltham Forest Council has agreed to contribute to the salaries of eleven Metropolitan Police coroner officers starting in the 2028/29 financial year. This arrangement comes as the Metropolitan Police grapples with a £159 million budget deficit, forcing it to seek contributions for services previously funded entirely by the force.
Role of Coroner Officers
Coroner officers are administrative and investigative staff who work under a coroner. Their duties include dealing with unexpected, violent, or unnatural deaths, acting as the primary contact for bereaved families, and liaising between police, medical professionals, and mortuaries. The total annual cost for the Coroners Service is £675,388.
Funding Agreement Details
The agreement negotiated between Waltham Forest Council and the Metropolitan Police involves a tapering payment structure. The Met will fund half the costs of the coroner service in 2028/29 and a quarter in 2029/30. From 2030/31 onwards, the full costs will be shared among five boroughs, including Waltham Forest, Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, and Redbridge.
Based on 2021 census data, Waltham Forest's contribution from 2030/31 will be approximately 19.6% of the overall service costs. The council stated that it negotiated for 18 months to secure funding beyond the initial offer.
Metropolitan Police Financial Challenges
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police highlighted that the force has made over £1 billion in cuts in recent decades. They stated that while efforts have been made to protect frontline services, the scale of the financial challenge requires considering changes to how policing is delivered. The priority remains keeping London safe by focusing resources on the greatest threats and most dangerous offenders.
The Met indicated that new technology will be introduced to minimise the impact of these changes, but acknowledged that not all current activities can be maintained. The force intends to be transparent with the public about the decisions being made and their potential effects.
Questions this report answers
01When will Waltham Forest Council start paying for Met Police coroner officers?
Waltham Forest Council will begin contributing towards the salaries of Metropolitan Police coroner officers from the 2028/29 financial year. This is part of a new agreement to help fund the service due to budget constraints faced by the Met.
02What is the total annual cost of the Coroners Service?
The total annual cost for the Coroners Service is £675,388. From the 2030/31 financial year, Waltham Forest will be responsible for approximately 19.6% of this total, based on its population size.
03Why is the council having to fund these officers?
The Metropolitan Police is facing a significant budget deficit of £159 million. As a result, the force can no longer fully fund the coroner officers, requiring contributions from the boroughs they serve to maintain the service.
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