The Defence Inquests Unit (DIU) is the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) departmental focal point for the coordination and management of all defence-related inquests.

Background

The DIU was formed in May 2008 at Army Headquarters in Andover in response to the MOD’s wish to improve the service provided to coroners investigating the deaths of service personnel and, by extension, bereaved service families.

The DIU has evolved since 2008 and its remit has expanded from initially only assisting coronial investigations into operational fatalities, to now offering to provide support to all inquests related to defence. This includes inquests into the deaths of service personnel, MOD civilians, veterans, and members of the public where the death is linked to defence activity.

The DIU moved from Army Headquarters in Andover to MOD Main Building in March 2016. The DIU now sits under Director, Directorate for Judicial Engagement Policy (DJEP).

The role of the DIU

The DIU exists in recognition of the huge debt owed to its personnel and to their families and the firm commitment from the senior levels of the MOD to the proper and sustained support to coroners, bereaved families and to MOD service and civilian personnel throughout an inquest. The DIU assists coroners so that they complete their inquests fully, thoroughly, and as quickly as possible, so bereaved families can find the answers they need about their loved one’s death.

The team within the DIU are a mixture of experienced civilian and military staff who strive to offer the best possible service to coroners. They also provide support to witnesses and bereaved families prior to attendance at an inquest, to give them an insight into how the process works and what to expect.

A key part of the DIU is ensuring that the department reflects on the findings of a defence-related inquest and ensures that, where possible, the organisation learns lessons and makes changes to prevent similar future deaths. On behalf of the MOD, the DIU strives to support an inquest fully, regardless of any reputational damage to the department.

Updates to this page

13 November 2026 Updated: 'Background' and 'The role of the DIU'. Removed: 'Timescale for Inquests'.

Updated: 'Background' and 'The role of the DIU'. Removed: 'Timescale for Inquests'.

1 April 2022 First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page