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October 05, 2025 – UK –
The UK government has announced a major step to shield reporters from abuse and threats by installing Journalist Safety Liaison Officers (JSLOs) in every police force in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
These new officers will serve as direct points of contact for journalists who face intimidation, harassment, or danger while carrying out their work. They will offer guidance before high-risk assignments (such as covering protests), help record crimes against journalists properly, and act as a bridge between the media, law enforcement, and government.
The roll-out covers all 43 police forces in England and Wales, as well as the British Transport Police and Counter Terror Policing units. Scotland and Northern Ireland already had similar roles in place, and the expansion formalizes those protections nationwide.
Media Minister Ian Murray commented that reporters must feel safe and supported so they can carry out their vital role in democracy without fear. Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, who co-chairs the national committee for journalist safety, emphasized her personal understanding of intimidation’s effects and stressed that protecting those who give voice to public issues is essential.
The initiative was developed in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). The NPCC media and communications lead, Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya, expressed policing’s commitment to ensuring journalists can work free from threat or interference.
This measure responds to mounting concerns that harassment—both online and in person—poses a growing danger to media professionals. The JSLO program aims to ensure that threats are taken seriously, abuses are properly recorded, and journalists have a reliable support system within law enforcement.
Reference –
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgvx589rl0o
Journalist safety officers hired in every police force in UK
