National Committee for the Safety of Journalists

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 journalists in the UK are able to operate free from threats and violence.

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

Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya, 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

Laura Davison, 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