London,
06
October
2016
|
08:28
Europe/London

First female City of London senior coroner appointed

The City of London Corporation, local authority for the Square Mile, has appointed Alison Hewitt as senior coroner for the City of London area. She becomes the first woman to take the role.

Miss Hewitt will take up her post on 12 October 2016. She studied Law at University College, London and the Inns of Court School of Law and was called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1984. She will continue to practise from her chambers at 5, Essex Court in the Temple.

Ms Hewitt said:

“I am delighted to accept this appointment and it will be a privilege to lead the team providing the coroner service for the City of London. I will endeavour to maintain the excellent standards of service which I have inherited.”

Alison brings a wealth of experience in inquests and coronial law, as well as judicial review, police, personal injury and regulatory law. She also sits as an assistant coroner in the Manchester West and Surrey areas.

Ms Hewitt takes over from Professor Paul Matthews, the current senior coroner, who has served the City of London since 2002.

The senior City of London coroner’s role is to investigate certain deaths within the Square Mile. If a death is suspected to have been either violent or unnatural, or the cause of the death is unknown, the coroner will decide whether to hold a post-mortem examination and, if necessary, an inquest.

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