Coroners Act 1996

If a person called as a witness at an inquest declines to answer any question on the ground that his or her answer will criminate or tend to criminate him or her, the coroner may, if it appears to the coroner expedient for the ends of justice that the person be compelled to answer the question, tell the person that if the person answers the question and other questions that may be put to him or her, the coroner will grant the person a certificate under this section.

After a person has been offered a certificate, the person is no longer entitled to refuse to answer questions on the ground that his or her answers will criminate or tend to criminate him or her, and if the person gives evidence to the satisfaction of the coroner, the coroner must give the person a certificate to the effect that the person was called as a witness in the inquest and that the person’s evidence was required for the ends of justice and was given to the coroner’s satisfaction.

Where a person is given a certificate under this section in respect of any evidence given at an inquest, a statement by the person as part of that evidence in answer to a question is not admissible in evidence in criminal proceedings against the person other than on a prosecution for perjury committed in the proceedings.