The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Home Office have announced that every police force in the UK will now have a dedicated ‘Journalist Safety Liaison Officer’ (JLSO).

The announcement is part of the wider National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists which was formed in 2023 in response to the growing threats faced by journalists and media outlets.

It will mean that journalists and media employers will have a single point of contact within every police force whom to contact. Equally, JLSOs will be responsible for providing practical support in response to abuse or intimidation (such as safety guidance ahead of high-risk assignments such as covering protests) and for ensuring that crimes against journalists are consistently reported and addressed.

The list of JLSOs is available to all journalists and employers on request, and individual contact details can be found by contacting the Society of Editors, the News Media Association, or the National Union of Journalists.

Commenting on the announcement, Dawn Alfrod, Chief Executive of the Society of Editors, said “improving communication and collaboration between the police and journalists is a vital step in ending impunity for crimes against journalists and the appointment of journalist safety officers across all UK forces sends a strong message to the perpetrators of this abuse. Robust, independent journalism strengthens democracy and the safety and ability of journalists to report, without fear or favour, should be of paramount importance to anyone who values a free press and its ability to hold power to account.”

For more information, click here.