A NEW Area Coroner and Assistant Coroners have been sworn in to help bolster the efficiency of the service.

The ceremony took place on Thursday, May 25, at Cheshire Coroner’s Court, St James Business Centre, Wilderspool Causeway, having recently moved from its previous location at Warrington Town Hall.

An Area Coroner is the Senior Coroner's deputy, and is one of the highest-ranking in the county.

Warrington Guardian: The coroner's office was formerly at Warrington Town HallThe coroner's office was formerly at Warrington Town Hall (Image: Supplied)

Cheshire's new Area Coroner is Victoria Davies, who previously practiced in Blackpool - she qualified in 2014, and specialised in health law, and then inquests.

Six new Assistant Coroners for Cheshire were also sworn in during the ceremony; these include Sarah Murphy, who has worked as an Assistant Coroner for 11 years.

She qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and practiced criminal law for 21 years in a variety of legal roles before specialising in coronial law.

Heath Westerman was sworn in to continue as an Assistant Coroner, and has been part of Cheshire Coroner’s Court since 2019 - he has conducted more than 1,000 inquests and is keen to continue this work for the community

Also sworn in is Alexander Frodsham, who was elected Junior of the Northern Circuit in 1999, before specialising in personal injury and inquests.

Alexander was appointed by the Attorney General to represent the Government in civil matters, as Junior Counsel to the Crown in 2015 before being re-appointed for a further five years in 2021.

Senior Coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, who formally took up her role in August last year, said: “Coroners have an important role to play in the judiciary and in the community.

"I am confident our new additions will bolster our resilience and improve the efficiency of the service.”

More information on the Coroner's Court can be found on Warrington Borough Council's website.