Journalist Safety at UK Protests and Public Events

Risk Assessment Before You Go

Every protest assignment should begin with a risk assessment, whether formal or informal. This is not bureaucratic box-ticking — it is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself.

• Research the event: Who is organising it? What are the grievances? Is there a counter-protest planned? Check social media for indicators of potential violence or disorder.
• Study the location: Identify entry and exit routes, nearby hospitals, and areas where crowds could become compressed. Use Google Maps Street View to familiarise yourself with the terrain.
• Check the police response: Monitor police social media accounts and force websites for statements about the event. A large police mobilisation may indicate anticipated disorder.
• Inform your editor: Let your newsdesk know where you will be, what time you expect to arrive and leave, and establish regular check-in times.
• Plan for loss of communication: Mobile networks can become congested during large events. Agree a fallback plan with your editor in case you cannot make contact.
• Consider working in pairs: If the event is high-risk, arrange to work with a colleague. One can shoot while the other keeps watch on the surroundings.

Your Legal Rights at Protests

Understanding your legal position is essential for confident reporting. Here are the key points:

• Right to report: Journalists have the same right as any member of the public to be present at a lawful public assembly. You also have rights under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of expression) which includes the right to receive and impart information.
• Photography and filming: You can photograph and film anything visible from a public place. Police have no power to prevent you from taking photographs or to delete your images. See our photography rights guide for more detail.
• Police kettling: If you are caught in a police kettle (containment), identify yourself as a journalist and request release. Courts have ruled that journalists should be allowed to leave kettles, although in practice this is not always respected. The NUJ press card can help.
• Stop and search: Police may use Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to authorise searches without reasonable suspicion in an area where serious violence is anticipated. This does not give them the power to seize your equipment unless they suspect it contains evidence of a crime.
• Arrest: If arrested, state clearly that you are a journalist working in a professional capacity. Contact the NUJ legal helpline immediately. Do not resist arrest physically, even if you believe it is unlawful.

Equipment Protection

Your equipment is both your livelihood and your evidence. Protect it:

• Insurance: Ensure your camera gear, phone and laptop are covered for use at public order events. Standard household insurance often excludes this. The NUJ offers specialist equipment insurance.
• Backup storage: Set your camera or phone to automatically upload images to cloud storage. If your equipment is seized or damaged, your footage is preserved.
• Carry minimal gear: Take only what you need. The less you carry, the more mobile you are. A phone with a good camera, a small notebook and a portable charger may be sufficient.
• Wear a camera strap: Cross-body straps are harder to grab than neck straps. Consider a quick-release system so you can detach the camera if someone grabs the strap.
• Protect your phone: Use a rugged case and screen protector. Consider a phone lanyard to prevent snatching.

De-escalation and Personal Safety

The most important skill at a protest is knowing how to avoid and defuse confrontation:

• Maintain awareness: Keep your head up and constantly scan your surroundings. Do not become so focused on filming that you lose awareness of what is happening around you.
• Position yourself carefully: Stay on the edges of crowds rather than in the centre. Keep exit routes in sight at all times. Avoid being between police lines and protesters.
• Body language: Keep your posture open and non-threatening. Make eye contact briefly but do not stare. Avoid sudden movements.
• Verbal de-escalation: If challenged by protesters or police, speak calmly and clearly. Identify yourself as a journalist. Listen to their concerns. Do not argue or become defensive.
• Know when to leave: If the situation escalates beyond your comfort level, leave. No story is worth your safety. You can always return or file from a safe distance.
• Dress appropriately: Avoid wearing anything that could identify you with either side of the protest. Dark, neutral clothing without logos is safest. Wear comfortable shoes you can move quickly in.

The NUJ Press Card

The NUJ press card is the only press card formally recognised by the UK police through the UK Press Card Authority. Carrying it:

• Identifies you as a working journalist to police officers
• May help you gain release from a police kettle
• Provides evidence of your professional status if arrested or challenged
• Gives you access to the NUJ's 24-hour legal helpline

Counter-Protests and Far-Right or Hostile Crowds

Some of the most dangerous assignments for UK journalists involve events where organised hostility to the press is a defining feature of the crowd, rather than an incidental risk. Certain far-right, anti-lockdown, and conspiracy-linked demonstrations have specifically targeted journalists and camera crews for intimidation and assault in recent years, and this pattern requires a distinct risk calculus from ordinary protest coverage.

• Anonymity trade-offs: Displaying broadcaster branding or an identifiable press card can sometimes increase risk at events where the press itself is viewed as a hostile actor by the crowd. Assess this specifically for the event you are covering, in consultation with your editor and, where relevant, security advisers.
• Work in teams: For events with a known history of hostility to press, do not attend alone. A second person providing situational awareness while you film or interview significantly reduces risk.
• Exit routes over access: Prioritise having a clear escape route over getting the closest possible shot. No footage is worth being trapped in a hostile crowd with no way out.
• Report incidents systematically: Organisations including the NUJ and Reporters Without Borders track attacks on journalists at UK events. Reporting incidents, even minor ones, helps build the evidence base for future safety planning and policy advocacy.

Reporting the Aftermath

Your responsibilities continue after you leave the protest:

• Accuracy in reporting: Protest crowd sizes are notoriously difficult to estimate. Be cautious with numbers and attribute estimates where possible. Avoid language that inadvertently criminalises all protesters for the actions of a few.
• Protecting sources: If protesters shared information with you in confidence, protect their identity. Consider the consequences of your reporting for individuals who may face arrest or employer retaliation.
• Footage requests: Police may request your footage as evidence. Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), Schedule 1, journalistic material has special protection and police must apply to a court for a production order. Do not hand over material voluntarily — refer any requests to your editor and the NUJ.
• Your own wellbeing: Covering violent or distressing events takes a toll. Check in with yourself after the assignment. The mental health resources available to journalists include specialist support for those affected by covering traumatic events.
• File complaints: If you experienced obstruction, assault or unlawful arrest, report it to the NUJ and consider filing a formal complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Essential Kit Checklist

Before heading to any protest or large public event, ensure you have:

• NUJ press card and photo ID
• Fully charged phone with cloud backup enabled
• Portable battery pack
• Small notebook and pen (technology-independent backup)
• Water and snacks (you may be kettled for hours)
• Emergency contact details written on paper (in case your phone dies or is seized)
• Cash (in case card machines are unavailable)
• Comfortable, neutral clothing and sturdy shoes

Practical Checklist

Run through these before, during, and after covering any protest or large public order event:

• Complete a risk assessment covering the organisers, location, and anticipated police response
• Carry your NUJ press card and confirm the union's legal helpline number is saved in your phone
• Set up automatic cloud backup for photos and footage before you arrive
• Agree check-in times and a fallback communication plan with your editor
• Identify entry and exit routes and avoid positioning yourself between police lines and protesters
• Assess whether displaying press branding increases or reduces your risk at this specific event
• Refer any police request for your footage to your editor and the NUJ rather than handing it over directly
• Check in on your own wellbeing after covering a violent or distressing event

Common Mistakes

• Attending high-risk events alone: Working solo removes the situational awareness a second person provides and leaves you without backup if the situation escalates.
• Handing footage to police voluntarily: Journalistic material has special protection under PACE Schedule 1 — police should apply for a production order, not simply ask you to hand material over on the spot.
• Carrying unnecessary items that could be misconstrued: Under the Public Order Act 2023, items such as cable ties could be misread as evidence of participation rather than observation.
• Overestimating crowd size without attribution: Crowd estimates are notoriously unreliable — attribute figures to police, organisers, or independent counts rather than guessing.
• Ignoring the psychological toll: Covering violent or distressing events repeatedly without support can lead to cumulative trauma; treat wellbeing check-ins as standard practice, not an afterthought.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Police attempt to delete images or footage from your device on the spot
• You are kettled with no apparent route to identify yourself as press and request release
• A crowd begins specifically targeting camera operators or press-branded equipment
• You are asked to hand over footage informally, without a production order under PACE Schedule 1
• You notice signs of accumulated stress or trauma after repeated coverage of violent events

Further Resources

• Mental Health Resources for UK Journalists — Support after covering distressing events
• Photography Skills for UK Journalists — Including legal rights to photograph
• UK Journalism Unions and Organisations — NUJ membership and press cards