11 Coroner may take possession of body.

(1) Where a coroner is informed that there is within his district the body of a deceased person and that there is reason to believe that the deceased person died in any of the circumstances mentioned in section seven or section eight he shall instruct a constable to take possession of the body and shall make such investigation as may be required to enable him to determine whether or not an inquest is necessary.

(2) For the purposes of an investigation under sub-section (1) the coroner may view the body but shall not be obliged to do so.

(3) The coroner may, with the consent of the [F22 Lord Chancellor], employ such persons as he considers necessary to assist him in such investigation.
(4) For the purposes of exercising his powers under this section, a coroner may direct the exhumation of any body which has been buried within his district and the consent of any other authority or person to any exhumation so directed shall not be required by anyF23. . . regulations under section one hundred and eighty-one of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878 .

Medical witnesses and post-mortem examinations etc.

23 Exhumation of body for examination.

(1) A coroner may order the exhumation of the body of a person buried within his district
where it appears to him that it is necessary for the body to be examined—

(a) for the purpose of his holding an inquest into that person's death or discharging any other function of his in relation to the body or the death; or

(b) for the purposes of any criminal proceedings which have been instituted or are contemplated in respect of the death of that person or of some other person who came by his death in circumstances connected with the death of the person whose body is needed for examination.

(2) The power of a coroner under this section shall be exercisable by warrant under his hand.

(3) No body shall be ordered by a coroner to be exhumed except under this section.

PART 2
ASSISTANCE

21 Verification of material

If in order to comply with a request of the ICC it is necessary for any evidence or other material obtained under this Part of this Act to be verified in any manner, the Scottish Ministers may give directions as to the nature of the verification required.

Part 3 Other forms of assistance

Supplementary provisions

40 Verification of material

If in order to comply with a request of the ICC it is necessary for any evidence or other material obtained under this Part to be verified in any manner, the Secretary of State may give directions as to the nature of the verification required.