Security officers for journalists in police departments in Great Britain.

Officials responsible for the safety of journalists (JSLO), as announced by the Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), are part of an "enhanced partnership" between the police, government, and media.

These officers will provide journalists and media employers with a single point of contact and practical support in cases of harassment or intimidation. This includes security advice prior to high-risk assignments, such as protests, and ensures that crimes against journalists are consistently recorded and prosecuted.

This protection system was established as part of the government's national action plan for journalist safety, which was initiated by the previous administration in October 2023.

"Every day, journalists are exposed to danger while fulfilling their role of informing the public. It is only right that they feel supported and protected," said Media Minister Ijan Marej to the BBC.

This move has been supported by the Association of Editors and the Association of Print Media, while the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) called it a "key milestone." Previously, a similar form of journalist protection (JSLO) was established in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Citizens' Protection Minister Jess Phillips, who is co-chair of the National Committee for Journalist Safety, stated that it is important to protect those who speak publicly, which must include journalists.

"Their work is the foundation of democracy, and they must be able to perform it without fear," Phillips noted.

Deputy Chief Constable Sem de Rea indicated that police take the safety of journalists extremely seriously, and this initiative demonstrates their commitment to protecting those who play a key role in democracy.

"We are proud to support this work and will continue to contribute to the protection and empowerment of journalists to carry out their jobs without fear and intimidation," highlighted Rea.

Daun Alford, Executive Director of the Association of Editors, stated that improving communication and cooperation between police and journalists represents a crucial step in combating impunity for crimes against journalists.

"The appointment of journalist safety officers in all police services across the United Kingdom sends a strong message to perpetrators of these attacks. Independent journalism strengthens democracy, and the safety and ability of journalists to report without fear and pressure must be a priority for all who value media freedom," Alford assessed.

Oven Meredit, Executive Director of the Association of Print Media, added that journalists play a crucial role in reporting on issues of public importance, but unfortunately, they increasingly face threats and intimidation aimed at silencing them.

"This is completely unacceptable, and those responsible must face consequences," he emphasized.

Laura Davison, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, welcomed this as an important advancement in the government's ongoing work to protect journalists.

"No journalist should have to endure threats or harassment because of their work, and establishing dedicated contact points represents a key step in providing practical and necessary support to journalists when they need it most," Davison stated.

A Similar System in Serbia

It is worth noting that in Serbia, the Permanent Working Group for Journalist Safety was established in 2017. It was formed by the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office (VJT), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), and all relevant journalistic and media associations – the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Media Association, the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), and the Association of Online Media (AOM). It is important to note that the OSCE Mission in Serbia has been involved in the work of the Working Group since its inception.

The foundation for the establishment of the Working Group was laid with the signing of the Agreement on Cooperation and Measures to Enhance the Safety of Journalists at the end of 2016. The signatories are Serbia's judicial institutions on one side and media associations on the other.

The goal of establishing the Working Group was to create mechanisms for rapid response in cases of threats to journalists' safety. Therefore, within the group, certain individuals were designated to coordinate actions in cases of criminal offenses against journalists. These individuals are referred to as contact points. From the media side, contact points are located within media associations, while on behalf of the prosecution, they are situated in appellate public prosecutor's offices for their respective territorial jurisdictions. Contact points in the Ministry of Internal Affairs have been designated in 27 police administrations.

At the beginning of this year, media associations sequentially suspended all forms of cooperation with legislative and executive authorities due to what was then described as the falsification of democratic processes and the erosion of the rule of law. Consequently, media associations also froze their membership in the Permanent Working Group for Journalist Safety. However, although official meetings are not being held, the mechanisms of the Working Group continue to function.

Source: ANEM / UNS