Lorraine Harris appointed new Senior Coroner

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Lorraine Harris has been appointed as His Majesty’s new Senior Coroner for Hull and the East Riding.

Miss Harris will start in the role on June 1, stepping up from her current position as Area Coroner.

She will succeed Professor Paul Marks, who is retiring after 14 years as Senior Coroner.

Coroners are independent judicial officers responsible for investigating and, where required, holding inquests where there is reason to suspect that the death was unnatural or violent, the cause of death is unknown, or where the death occurs in custody or state detention. 

Prior to becoming Area Coroner, Miss Harris’ career focused on the investigation of death, both as a barrister leading Park Square Barristers Chambers, Leeds, inquest team and as her previous role as Head of Crime Scene Investigation in Kent.

Miss Harris said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the new Senior Coroner for the East Riding of Yorkshire and City of Kingston upon Hull.

“I have been honoured to have sat in this jurisdiction as an Assistant Coroner since late 2017 and then as the Area Coroner, and I look forward to continuing with my judicial duties in my new appointment.

“As coroners, we meet people in the most unfortunate circumstances, so I am very family focused, and my aim is to ensure the bereaved receive the very best quality of service in their time of loss.

“We have a wonderful team within the court and together we are dedicated to providing the very best of care to the community within the East Riding and Hull.

“Of course, I must pay tribute to my predecessor Professor Marks and wish him well for the future.”

Miss Harris was appointed as His Majesty’s Senior Coroner for the area following a formal recruitment process, with the panel’s decision being confirmed by both the Chief Coroner and the Lord Chancellor.

Professor Marks first took coronial office in 2004, working in other parts of Yorkshire before moving to his current base at the Guildhall in Hull.

He said: “It has been a privilege and honour to have been Senior Coroner for Hull and East Yorkshire and to have led the service through many changes and challenges during the past 14 years.

“These have included changing from previous legislation to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 which came into force in July 2013, the Covid-19 pandemic and the introduction of statutory Medical Examiners and changes to death certification.

“I have been fortunate enough to have excellent colleagues and with Miss Harris’ appointment, I know that the jurisdiction will go from strength to strength and continue to espouse the core value of keeping the bereaved at the heart of the inquest process.”

Hull City Council chief executive Matt Jukes said: “I welcome the appointment of Miss Harris as our new Senior Coroner.

“She is well equipped to take on the role, having served as our Area Coroner for over five-and-a-half years.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Professor Marks for his outstanding work, and wish him well with his retirement.”

Paul Bellotti, chief executive of East Riding Council, said: “Congratulations to Miss Harris on her appointment to this role and we look forward to a close and productive working relationship, as she leads the Hull and East Riding Coronial Service.

“We thank the outgoing senior coroner, Professor Marks, for all his work and superb leadership, and wish him well in his retirement.”