Role
The National Committee for the Safety of Journalists brings together representatives from government, journalism, policing, prosecution services and civil society to work in collaboration to make sure that journalists in the UK are able to operate free from threats and violence.
The Committee has developed a National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists, which sets out how the safety of journalists in the UK can be protected.
A new taskforce has been set up to help co-ordinate a non-legislative response to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) which target journalists. The taskforce will bring together government, journalists and legal services to develop swift action to tackle SLAPPs, alongside incoming primary legislation linked to economic crime. The taskforce will report regularly on progress to effectively address this issue to the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists.
Meetings
The committee meets twice a year. The first meeting was held on 13 July 2020.
Members
Jess Phillips MP, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Home Office
Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, DCMS
Michael Agnew, Deputy Director, Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland
Grace Ononiwu, Director of Legal Services, Crown Prosecution Service
Laura Buchan, Head of Policy and Engagement, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Chief Constable Pippa Mills, National Police Chiefs Council
Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, Police Service Northern Ireland
Richard Burgess, Director of News Content, BBC
Dawn Alford, Executive Director, Society of Editors
Owen Meredith, Chief Executive, News Media Association
Jemimah Steinfeld, CEO, Index on Censorship
Superintendent Joanne McEwan, Police Scotland
Michelle Stanistreet, General Secretary, National Union of Journalists
Fiona O’Brien, UK Bureau Director, Reporters without Borders
Observers
Elena Consentino, Director, International News Safety Institute
Deborah Bonetti, Director, The Foreign Press Association
Prof. Ivor Gaber, UK representative, UNESCO Communications Sector
Tom Gibson, EU representative, Committee to Protect Journalists
Rozita Lofti, Head of BBC Persian, BBC World Service
Maria Ordzhonikidze, Director, Justice for Journalists
Tim Dawson, Deputy General Secretary, International Federation of Journalists
Terms of Reference
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Committee Meeting minutes
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SLAPPs Taskforce Workplan
Publications
National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists
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Press Releases
New plans to ensure safety of journalists.
Government publishes first ever national action plan to protect journalists.