Online abuse is unacceptable and should be reported as a crime, the head of Avon and Somerset police communications has told the West of England NUJ branch.
Neil Bennett, a former head of news at BBC Bristol and now Director of Communications and Engagement at Avon and Somerset Police, has promised that the police will offer practical support for journalists facing intimidation and abuse.
He is one of two senior level Journalist Safety Liaison Officers (JSLOs) appointed by Avon and Somerset police following a national initiative developed by the Government in consultation with the police service and the Society of Editors. While Neil Bennett is the point of contact for journalists, Chief Superintendent Jane Wigmore, Head of CID, is the other liaison officerwho will be informed of abuse and can follow up if an investigation is required. The initiative has been welcomed by the NUJ, which has also developed its own Safety Tracker where journalists can report work-related abuse, harassment or legal threats.
Neil Bennett said the aim was to provide a senior named point of contact and practical support for journalists in relation to threats, abuse and intimidation, offer advice for journalists who covering protests, and create an environment where journalists feel they are not alone.
“Abuse is a crime and should be reported as a crime.” He undertook to include the NUJ branch chair in meetings being held between the police and editors.
“That doesn’t mean to say that police forces will be able to solve everything, because these are sometimes quite high bars to get over to bring a criminal conviction. Part of this is to try and identify how much is this really happening. People should be able to carry out their journalism and feel safe to do so and this is part of making that happen.”
As news editor at BBC West he experienced staff facing harassment to the extent that no byline was used on some stories. While harassment and physical intimidation have always existed it increased with advent of new technologies and social media. “I don’t think the values of journalism that we hold dear play out so easily in the modern sphere.”
The initiative may be of special interest to freelance NUJ members who do not have support from a media organisation, and need to feel safe to carry out their work.
He said there was some initial scepticism from journalists but nationally the system is beginning to be used. The intent was not to co-opt journalists but to offer support. “Genuinely, this is about making sure that journalism is able to operate in safety.”
Jo Irving from BBC Radio Devon said it was hard to know where to draw the line and to escalate issues. “TV and radio presenters are vulnerable to online abuse from keyboard warriors and neither staff nor editors are clear about when to say enough is enough and escalate this to the police. You have got to be thick-skinned to be a journalist, but there comes a point when repeated abuse is soul-destroying. It would be good to know how quickly you step in and work with news editors to say, we’re here and this is what we can do.”
Neil Bennett promised to raise this at the next meeting that Somerset and Avon police are planning with editors in the region. “I will raise it because I think it is hard to define where the tipping point is, but abuse is abuse and if you’re being personally abused, then one time is too many.” He undertook to include an NUJ representative at this meeting through an invitation to the branch chair.
Asked more generally about police giving more information when they were attending incidents, Neil Bennet said that his media team would try to help but there was sometimes a conflict with operational needs. “There’s information you can give out and there’s some sometimes information you can’t. But hopefully you can lead people in the right direction. And that’s about building trust and confidence.” He said that the NUJ Press card [part of the national UK Press Card system] was widely recognised as badge of authenticity for journalists who work to a code of practice.
NUJ Press Card: The NUJ obtains UK Press Cards for NUJ members from the UK Press Card Authority. The UKPCA also supplies UK Press Cards to other organisations, including the BBC, ITV, Sky News, etc. as well as the press card carrying the NUJ’s logo. The UK Press Card which NUJ members can apply for is especially valuable for freelancers who work for a variety of media organisations.
Links:
Officer for journalist safety now in every UK police force to promote media freedom https://www.gov.uk/government/news/officer-for-journalist-safety-now-in-every-uk-police-force-to-promote-media-freedom
National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists described athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-action-plan-for-the-safety-of-journalists/national-action-plan-for-the-safety-of-journalists
UK Journalist Safety Liaison Officers list at https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/uk-journalist-safety-liaison-officers-list.html
Journalists’ Safety Tracker (set up by the NUJ) athttps://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/journalists-safety-tracker.html
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