Journalists now have a dedicated point of contact in every police force in the UK to get support when faced with abuse and threats of violence
Journalists across the country are being urged to make use of newly established dedicated contacts within every police force in the latest measure by the Government to promote media freedom and protect journalists.
Every police force in the UK now has a Journalist Safety Liaison Officer, as part of a strengthened partnership between the media, policing and Government to improve their safety.
Journalists routinely risk their personal safety while reporting from protests, crime scenes, and other volatile environments. Their presence on the ground is essential for challenging misinformation and highlighting issues that matter to communities across the UK. Yet in recent years, they’ve increasingly become targets - both online and on the ground.
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Media Minister Ian Murray said:
In recognition of the potential dangers journalists face, the Government and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) have stepped up work over the past year to appoint Journalist Safety Liaison Officers (JSLOs).
In addition to those that already exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland, there is now an officer in all 43 forces in England and Wales, as well as one for the British Transport Police and Counter Terror Policing.
The officers will provide journalists and media employers with a single point of contact and provide practical support in response to abuse or intimidation. This includes safety guidance ahead of high-risk assignments, such as protests, and ensures crimes against journalists are consistently recorded and addressed.
The appointment of JSLOs is part of the Government’s National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists, which aims to ensure journalists can carry out their role in informing the public and holding those in power to account.
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It also aligns with Government plans for a Local Media Strategy to support local journalism. Resources are stretched in many local newsrooms across the country, and through the Strategy ministers want to make it easier for journalists to cover the issues that matter to local communities, conduct investigative journalism and report without fear or favour.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, who co-chairs the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, said:
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for media and communications, Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya, said:
The list of JSLOs is available to all journalists (including freelance journalists) and employers on request and has been circulated by the NPCC. Contact details for the relevant JSLOs can be found by contacting The Society of Editors, the News Media Association or The National Union of Journalists.
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Additional quotes:
Dawn Alford, chief executive of the Society of Editors, said:
News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said:
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said: