The key output of the NCSJ to date has been the National Action Plan which sets out how UK journalists will be protected from threats of violence or intimidation. The Plan focuses on five key areas: 

• Increasing our understanding of the problem: It is clear that many journalists currently working in the UK do not feel safe from threats, abuse and physical harm. Journalist safety in the UK is an ever-evolving issue and we are taking steps to build a firm evidential base to ensure action is appropriately targeted;
• Enhancing the criminal justice system response in tackling crimes against journalists: Where the harm caused to a journalist amounts to a criminal offence, it is crucial that everything possible is done to bring those responsible to justice. We are taking steps to ensure there is an understanding of the nature and scale of the problem on the part of the police and prosecutors across the UK;
• Supporting journalists and their employers to build the resources they need to protect personal safety: In order for effective action to be taken when a threat is received, journalists need to understand the options available to them, and be supported by their employers in preventing and addressing threats. We are taking steps to equip journalists with the right tools and information to maintain their safety as much as possible;
• Helping online platforms to tackle the wider issue of abuse online: The government has recognised the importance of addressing this issue given the increasing consumption of digital news content and journalists’ lack of confidence in how best to resolve instances of online abuse. We are taking steps to ensure that the internet is a safe space for journalists in the UK.
• Improving public recognition of the value of journalists: It is crucial that citizens recognise that a free and independent media is of fundamental importance. We are taking steps to uphold an environment where journalists are free to carry out their work. Many of the commitments in the original National Action Plan have now been delivered.

These include:

• DCMS and the Home Office published analysis from a Call for Evidence during Journalism Matters Week 2021;
• A legal guide for journalists in England and Wales to combat online harassment and abuse was published in 2021;
• Publication of a media literacy strategy, which takes a sector-focused approach to support organisations undertaking media literacy activity to do so in a more wide-reaching and effective way;
• The introduction and Royal Assent of the Online Safety Act, which introduces new rules for firms which host user-generated content and enable user to user interaction;
• The appointment of Journalist Safety Liaison Officers by police forces across the UK;
• An online safety toolkit which covers a variety of issues such as physical and digital safety, mental health, as well as signposting a number of other helpful resources.
• A full list of delivered actions to date can be found here.

The Plan was published with the intention of being a dynamic, living document, and there is regular review of it to ensure its commitments reflected changes in the nature of safety concerns faced by journalists in the UK.

Other relevant documents and initiatives:

• The Protocol between the prosecution service, police and the media which enables the release of footage shown in court to the media. It has transformed court reporting here
• Reporters Charter setting out the rights of reporters to report the courts
• Guides from the ministry of Justice to their court staff on supporting media access to courts and tribunals
• Judicial Transparency Group: judges set up a judicial group to promote openness
• Judicial Reporting Restrictions Guide. This is a guide from the judges that sets out clearly what restrictions can apply, so there is clarity.
• Bar council Guidance on Provision of Documents to Journalists – informing lawyers what they can do to engage with reporters on the issue of disclosure of documents
• Coroners Court Media Guidance – the disclosure of video to the media in inquests into the death of an individual
• Family Courts Transparency – greater access to reporters to report family courts

2025 update

The United Kingdom continued implementing its National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists through the work of the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists and its thematic sub-groups. During 2025, discussions focused on strengthening the criminal justice response to crimes against journalists, tackling abusive legal threats and improving protection against online and offline harassment. Several sub-groups met regularly throughout the year to oversee implementation of commitments under the National Action Plan.

A significant milestone was achieved in September 2025 when the National Police Chiefs’ Council confirmed that every police force in the United Kingdom had appointed a dedicated single point of contact for journalists. The introduction of Journalist Safety Liaison Officers represents an important step towards improving communication between journalists and law-enforcement authorities and strengthening responses to threats and abuse.

The UK also continued efforts to address Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). In June 2025, provisions of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 designed to tackle SLAPP claims related to economic crime entered into force. At the same time, the Government continued exploring broader measures to address abusive legal threats through cooperation with legal professionals, media organisations and civil society stakeholders.