Editors have backed calls for a team of regional court officers to be created in order to help journalists struggling with access to hearings.

The Society of Editors has written to Justice Secretary Dominic Raab urging him to pilot the use of HM Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service regional communication and information officers to support media and public access to hearings.

The plea follows a recommendation by House of Commons Justice Committee in a report examining court reporting in the digital age.

The SoE also wants other recommendations from the report to be taken forward, including the launch a single digital portal for journalists to access information related to proceedings and the creation of a centralised database for reporting restrictions.

In its letter to Mr Raab, pictured, the SoE said: “HMCTS’ ongoing reform programme is making significant progress in modernising and upgrading the justice system however more can indeed be done by the courts and judiciary to support open justice in the digital age.

“As has been reported by a number of our members, journalists continue to face practical difficulties and ‘significant barriers’ and variations in the accessibility and quality of information that is made available to them during court proceedings.

“Such difficulties pose significant challenges in ensuring open justice can be maintained and we welcome the committee’s acknowledgement that the justice system as well as judges and courts staff have a role to play in translating the principle of open justice into reality.”

It added: “The Society welcomes the committee’s recommendation of a single digital portal which the media and the public can use to access information on court proceedings, court documents and other relevant information and we have long supported the formation of a centralised database for reporting restrictions.

“In addition, the piloting of regional communication and information officers to support media and public access to hearings would ensure there is a formal mechanism in place to raise accessibility enquiries or complaints in relation to the courts.”

The Society also called for the trial broadcasting of Crown Court sentencing remarks to be expanded.

It said “The broadcasting earlier this year of sentencing remarks in the Crown Courts was a monumental moment for open justice and will no doubt ensure greater public understanding of how sentencing decisions are made.

“The Society has long supported the expansion of broadcasting in the courts for the benefit of the public and we welcome the Justice Committee’s support for further research to determine areas in which filming could be expanded particularly in relation to civil and criminal proceedings and the broadcasting of sentencing remarks from Magistrates’ courts.”