When the police or a coroner is trying to find out the possible cause of death, usually they need the help of a pathologist. The pathologists who work to investigate a suspected homicide are forensic pathologists. In the United Kingdom, there are a number of Registered Home Office Pathologists. They conduct post – mortem examinations in a suspicious death and they work with police forces and coroners. How many forensic pathologists are there in the UK?
According to the Gov.Uk site, in 2016, there were around 35 to 40 Home Office Registered Pathologists in the UK who work in group practices across England and Wales. These pathologists provide a 24/7 service to the police and coroners in suspicious death cases. They are also the first one that is called to help the police and coroners when there is a suspected homicide. On that source, it is also explained that the pathologists get four years of additional training in forensic pathology after they have met the requirements as doctors. To be a Home Office forensic pathologist, they need to be registered with the General Medical Council and also they need to have a license to practice in the UK. Besides, they also have to be a member of the Royal College of Pathologists.
According to the www.gov.uk, here are the forensic pathologists who are registered by the Home Office and work in the practice area noted where there are 39 forensic pathologists and this information is based on the data updated on August 3rd, 2022.
List of Forensic Pathologists in the UK
| Practice Area | Forensic Pathologists | Police Forces Served |
| Greater London, South East and West Midlands |
|
Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, City of London, Kent, Hertfordshire, Metropolitan, Staffordshire, Norfolk, Surrey, Suffolk, Thames Valley, Sussex, West Mercia, Warwickshire, West Midlands |
| East Midlands |
|
Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire |
| North East |
|
Durham, Cleveland, North Yorkshire, Northumbria |
| Mid and South Wales and Gloucestershire |
|
South Wales, Dyfed-Powys, Gwent, Gloucestershire |
| West and South West |
|
Devon & Cornwall, Avon & Somerset, Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire |
| North West, Humberside and Yorkshire |
|
Cumbria, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire , Humberside, North Wales, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire
|
A forensic pathologist can be called by the police to come to the scene with the aim to help and advise when the police are dealing with a death scene and they need medical advice to find out the cause of the death.
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