Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with police chief constables on the importance of protecting freedom of the press for journalists covering protests.

The Government is clear that freedom of the press is an absolute priority. That is why the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport set up the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists last year which brings together representatives from government, journalism, policing, prosecution services and civil society. The Committee published its National Action Plan on 9 March 2021 - National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Following engagement with the police and others, we are introducing measures through the Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing Bill to give the police the powers they need to manage highly disruptive protests that infringe on the rights of others to go about their daily business. How the police use their powers are operational matters for the police.