Criminal defence solicitors have called on the Courts Service to allow them to take dictation devices into court buildings.

The Courts Service currently bans the devices from court premises, and they are often removed from solicitors when they enter the buildings, although the rule is not applied consistently.

The London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association (LCCSA) and the Criminal Law Solicitors Association (CLSA) have asked the Courts Service to review its policy so that they can use the time spent in between cases more productively.

Tony Meisels, an LCCSA committee member, said: ‘Having [these devices] removed is extremely inconvenient as we spend long periods at court waiting for cases to be called on. This is dead time, and it would be useful if we could dictate notes from the day’s cases.

‘The rule banning these devices is nonsensical, because other devices such as mobile phones, which are capable of recordings, are allowed,’ said Meisels.

He added: ‘The courts don’t trust us to act in a responsible manner, yet we are officers of the court... They seem to think that we’re going to secretly record court proceedings.’

Former CLSA chairman Ian Kelcey said: ‘Criminal solicitors work on very tight margins and it is vital that we are able to make the best use of all our time. The policy is absurd.’

A Courts Service spokeswoman said it will address the issue.