The Executive Decision meeting of Waltham Forest Council on Friday 14 August 2026 resulted in the approval of a funding agreement with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for the transfer of Coroner Officers. This decision authorises the signing of the agreement, which will secure funding over four years to cover the salary costs of these officers as they move from MPS employment to the London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF).

Transfer of Coroner Officers

The Portfolio Lead Member for Finance and Resources, Councillor Em Dean, authorised the signing of a funding agreement with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). This agreement will facilitate the transfer of Coroner Officers from the MPS to the employment of the London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF). The funding from the MPS will cover the salary costs of these officers over a four-year period, with the MPS contributing 100% in the first two years (2026/27 and 2027/28), 50% in the third year (2028/29), and 25% in the fourth year (2029/30).

LBWF is the lead local authority for the Eastern Coronial jurisdiction, which also includes Newham, Redbridge, Havering, and Barking and Dagenham. Under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009¹, local authorities are responsible for the running costs of the Coroners Service. Historically, the MPS covered the costs of Coroner Officers across London. However, as part of budget-cutting measures, the MPS requested that these officers be transferred to local authority employment by October 2028.

Following extensive negotiations, the funding agreement aims to secure funding for the eleven Coroner Officers who will transfer to LBWF. The current annual cost for these officers is £675,388. The agreement, detailed in the Draft Funding Agreement between the Metropolitan Police Service and LBWF, has been approved by the MPS and the coronial lead boroughs. This arrangement is considered an improvement on the MPS's initial proposal, allowing for better budget planning. The agreement also removes some of the MPS's more restrictive requirements, such as payment in arrears, and reduces bureaucratic auditing demands.

The Council had no discretion in taking over the responsibility for these costs, as mandated by the Act. While the negotiations secured additional funding beyond the initial MPS offer, it was not possible to obtain further financial contributions without risking the entire funding package. The transfer of staff will be managed in accordance with the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSoP)², ensuring that the Coroner Officers' terms and conditions remain no less favourable upon transfer, aligning with the principles of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE)³.

The financial implications show that the MPS funding will taper over the four years, with the coronial jurisdiction needing to cover 50% of the costs in 2028/29 and 75% in 2029/30. The detailed costings are outlined in Appendix 2 of the Public reports pack. The report confirmed there were no equality, diversity, or sustainability issues associated with this transfer.