HM Coroner's Service Cumbria

The role of a coroner is to get involved when someone has died through tragic or unexplained circumstances, establishing certain details surrounding their death. Find out more about their role, current and upcoming inquests and how to contact the service.

Overview

Coroners are independent judicial officers and are not employed by the local authority. They are independent of both local and central government, and are required to act in accordance with legislation.

Coroners and their deputies must be either lawyers or medical practitioners of at least 5 years' standing, and each has the same powers to hold inquests.

Coroner's inquests

Find out more about current and upcoming coroner's inquests.

HM Senior Coroner - Kally Cheema

Cumbria’s senior Coroner has died after a period of ill health.

Kally Cheema came to Cumbria in 2016 as area Coroner, and was appointed as Senior Coroner for Cumbria in 2018.

She was also a course director at the Judicial College and looked after the training for new Assistant Coroners across England and Wales, and was Honorary Assistant Secretary of the Coroners Society of England and Wales.

Cumberland Council said: “Our sincere condolences and thoughts are with Ms. Cheema’s partner Patrick, and all her family, friends and colleagues, at what is a very sad and difficult time.”

Acting Senior Coroner is Kirsty Gomersal. Miss Gomersal was appointed as Area Coroner for Cumbria in 2018 and was previously Assistant Coroner for West Yorkshire.