The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has criticised justice secretary Kenneth Clarke’s refusal to allow appeals against a coroner’s verdict.

Clarke has scrapped plans to abolish the post of chief coroner after heavy opposition from charities such as the Royal British Legion.

But he also refused calls for a change to the existing appeals process, which denies the right of appeal. Instead bereaved relatives are offered the chance to challenge the inquest verdict through a judicial review application to the Divisional Court or submission to the High Court under the Human Rights Act.

APIL president David Bott said the u-turn over the chief coroner’s post was a ‘great first step’, but was undermined by the refusal of a right to appeal: ‘Bereaved families deserve to have a coroner service in which they can have confidence.’

He said: ‘Without a right to appeal, public confidence in the system will inevitably be diminished. What is needed is an efficient and accessible appeals system which provides grieving relatives with the reassurance that, if they feel there has been an injustice, they are able to change it.’

In a statement Clarke noted that the maintenance of the status quo was partly motivated by financial considerations, with his decision helping to ‘avoid the need for expensive new appeal rights’.

He added that the priority instead should be to improve standards and training, as well as setting minimum standards through a new charter.

‘Everyone is agreed that the priority is raising the standard of coroners’ inquiries and inquests to ensure that bereaved families are satisfied with the whole process.’