The acting senior coroner for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot has been issued with a reprimand after he was found to have behaved in an intimidating manner and made inappropriate remarks.
Colin Phillips was investigated by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office following a complaint of inappropriate behaviour towards coronial staff.
In a statement published this week, the independent statutory body said: "The Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice, while accepting that the coroner was working in challenging circumstances and noting that many other allegations were found to be unproven, concluded that he behaved in an intimidating manner and made inappropriate remarks to staff, for which they have issued him with a reprimand.”
Coroners, who are appointed by local councils, investigate deaths that have been reported to them if it appears that the death was violent or unnatural, the cause of death is unknown, or if the person died in state detention.
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The role of a coroner is to find out, for the benefit of bereaved people and for official records, who has died and how, when, and where they died.
If it is not possible to find out the cause of death from a post-mortem examination, or the death is found to be unnatural, the coroner has to hold an inquest, according to Ministry of Justice guidance .
In January, council chiefs agreed a pay rise of more than £35,000 for Mr Phillips, from £91,420 to £127,000.
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In doing so they followed the recommendations of a nationwide framework for the remuneration of coroners — and the increase will be backdated to November, 2017, when the new framework was published.
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A report before Swansea cabinet said at the time: “With around 2,350 to 2,600 reported deaths a year, 350 inquests a year of which 50 are complex, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot is a busy and complex coroner area and the pay of the senior coroner does not currently reflect this.”
Swansea Council contributes 65.5% of the salary, and Neath Port Talbot Council, 34.5%.
Mr Phillips declined to comment.
