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March 13, 2014

Reporter banned from inquest because of ‘buildings insurance’ anomaly

By Press Gazette

A local newspaper reporter in Croydon has been told he cannot cover an inquest because the building's insurance policy did not cover him.
Chris Baynes was ejected by security staff at Croydon Magistrates' Court at the start of the inquest into the death of a young mother who died in hospital after giving birth.
The coroner's court was the only one sitting yesterday because of major building work.
The Croydon Guardian reports: "A security guard told the reporter, who was initially allowed to enter court and the only journalist present, that the court's insurance policy did not cover members of the public during the closure.
"However, she claimed witnesses and family members attending the inquest were covered.
"The guards said they were following orders of the court's manager, who was not present."
The Ministry of Justice said it would investigate – but declined to comment further.
Meanwhile, the Oxford Mail reports that its reporter has been kicked out of a Witney town council meeting for the fourth time.
A meeting to discuss plans to sell a local building was held behind closed doors.
The paper said council officials "cited concerns that the paper had 'misrepresented things' in the past, yet offered no clarification".
The Mail said it had previously received no complaints about its coverage of the issue.

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