Petition handed in over Coroner Peter Straker (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Leaders of Indian-Muslim Welfare Society of Kirklees hand in 5,000-name petition

9:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Kathie Griffiths, T&A Reporter

Leaders of an Indian-Muslim Welfare Society have handed in a 5,000-name petition to Bradford Council leader David Green listing complaints about the handling of some inquests by Coroner Peter Straker.

The petition covers concerns from the Muslim community across Kirklees and Calderdale about “unnecessary obstacles and delays” to burials that it says Mr Straker has created by being “inflexible and insensitive”.

Aziz Daji, chairman of the Indian-Muslim Welfare Society of Kirklees, was at City Hall to hand over the petition which a Council spokesman said would be forwarded to the Office for Judicial Complaints leading the investigation into Mr Straker’s conduct.

Mr Daji said: “We hope firm action will be taken to address all our concerns.”

He said GPs have been concerned about the excessive number of post-mortem examinations Mr Straker has ordered.