A chief reporter scored a court access victory after an usher tried to bar him from using electronic devices in a hearing.

Jamie Bowman, who works for Newsquest’s new weekly the Salford City News, was told by the usher at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court that he would not be able to use his mobile phone or laptop while covering a recent case.

Jamie, pictured, protested after the usher told him that “most reporters make do with a notebook”.

He quoted guidance issued in 2011 by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, which allows for members of the media covering cases to use such devices in court. His argument was “grudgingly” accepted by the usher.

Jamie, pictured, told HTFP: “I was told by an usher I would not be able to use my mobile phone or laptop during proceedings as it was not allowed. I was surprised as I knew this was not according to the regulations and in a decade of court reporting I had never been asked this.

“When I asked why I was told by the usher it was because people in the public gallery were regularly admonished for using their mobile phone and there couldn’t be one rule for one and another for others. ‘Besides, most reporters make do with a notebook,’ she added.

“I was shocked by this, and not a little incredulous, and I told her that myself and other reporters were constantly using both mobiles and laptops to live tweet etc. She seemed surprise and said it wasn’t allowed.

“I then showed her the published guidance in February 2011 (revised January 2013) on the practice relating to the use of live text-based communications from court which she grudgingly accepted before adding she would have to ask the judge’s permission.

“I knew this was not the case either and told her and no more was said. I am surprised that almost a decade after these guidelines were recommended court reporters are still getting admonished for using their devices.”

In October 2018, court staff across the country were issued with guidance aimed at helping them to assist journalists covering hearings after a spate of incidents in which ushers had wrongly tried to exclude them.

The previous month, HTFP had reported how a youth court usher had attempted to bar Bristol Post journalist Alex Wood from a hearing – only to admit when challenged that she “didn’t know” why he should be denied access.

And in January 2018, an usher and a clerk tried to ban Birmingham Mail investigations editor Jeanette Oldham from entering Worcester Crown Court in the mistaken belief that the judge had imposed a reporting restriction which meant that she was not allowed to attend the hearing.

HTFP has approached HM Courts & Tribunals Service for a comment.