‘Revolting Britain!’ - A journalist’s safety guide to covering public disorder stories and others in similar dangerous circumstances.

There is no doubt that safety equipment can both save lives or injury, but what is the right equipment to buy? The CIoJ has conducted some fairly extensive research into what is available in the way of protective equipment at this time.

Firstly, helmets. Currently, other than military or riot type helmets, or something like a motorcycle crash hat, there is nothing better than the baseball type cap protector from First Base. This and some “woolly hats” with the same liner are more or less the only covert head protection that is available. While less than perfect, they will protect you from some forms of injury and at around £10 to £15, if you are covering civil disorder, you would be a fool not to wear one.

On the stab/bullet proof vest front, things are a lot better with many good quality products being available from companies such as TBA, Bradley and Praetorian. You can get a covert vest on E-Bay for as little as £80, but don’t! There are many things one needs to find out about Kevlar equipment, much of which may not be available unless it comes from a reputable supplier. You need to know not only its resistance to bullets and stab wounds but also how good it is to resist blunt force. One thing worth remembering is that it doesn’t pay to look too much like the police in incidents of civil disorder, so one should always try and get a good covert vest.

To obtain a free copy of Revolting Britain!

please send a sae to CIoJ, 2 Dock Offices Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU

Revolting Britain!’ - A journalist’s safety guide to covering public disorder stories and others in similar dangerous circumstances.

Journalists are treated in law as ordinary citizens, but with some special rights.

They have the full protection of the law under international conventions. They are also protected by the legally enforceable European Convention on Human Rights.

Journalists’ right to be at violent and conflict situations is spelt out in a recommendation of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers which stresses that “the freedom of the media and the free and unhindered exercise of journalism must be respected in situations of conflict and tension”.

Under UK health and safety regulations, and under the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, employers are responsible for ensuring that their staff have reasonable and safe working conditions. This makes them responsible for anyone sent to work in violent situations, or in situations that might become violent – in other words that he/she is fully prepared and has protective clothes and equipment.

Although it has not been tested in a Court of Law whether this applies to journalists and media personnel, the Institute understands that it does. If journalists are attacked, injured or worse while covering a demonstration or other news event, they or their survivors should ask their union for advice. If you are not a member of a union, seek independent legal advice from a reputable firm of solicitors.

Where appropriate the union will seek compensation from those responsible for the damage, injury or death.

Being properly prepared means having had safety training and being insured. Being properly protected means having safety equipment that journalists can put on the moment a demonstration or news event looks like turning violent.

To obtain a free copy of Revolting Britain!

please send a sae to CIoJ, 2 Dock Offices Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU

‘Revolting Britain!’ – A journalist’s safety guide to covering public disorder stories and others in similar dangerous circumstances.

1. Most violent demos happen at night. Wear dark clothing, carry the minimum money necessary and use a mobile phone discreetly.
2. Carry a minimum amount of equipment…and NO bulging camera bag or laptop computer
3. Don’t use flash…it’ll pinpoint you, and you may get a brick by return.
4. Don’t wander off on your own. Stick with colleagues, or in sight of police lines.
5. Always try to be on the move, don’t stand still for more than a few moments; you tend to stay alert if you’re on the move, and always be aware of what’s going on around you.
6. Don’t hold extended conversations on your mobile phone, it’ll distract you from what’s going on around you. If the office keep calling you, tell them to stop. You’ve got a riot to cover.
7. If you must carry valuables like a credit card, use a concealed zip fastened pocket for this, and the bulk of your cash. Carry a fiver in an outside pocket ready to “make available” in case you get mugged…if they see your pocket is otherwise empty, they may move on.
8. Do not take anything for granted. Know. Be certain and don’t attract attention to yourself by your clothes or by your actions.
9. Do not be foolhardy or macho. That last good quote or last good photo should not be your last.
10. Do not imagine it can’t happen to you – IT CAN!

To obtain a free copy of Revolting Britain!

please send a sae to CIoJ, 2 Dock Offices Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU

A journalist’s safety guide to covering public disorder stories and others in similar dangerous circumstances.

Journalists have always found themselves the target of mindless violence when covering stories of public disorder. Those journalists of the old school ironically hark back to the ‘good ole days’ of flying bricks and bottles while covering the union strikes of the ’70s.

In recent times, however, there has been a notable shift in the kind of violence that pertains at such incidents, like the riots seen in Birmingham during 2005 and those witnessed at football matches. Firstly, with the use of mobile technology the incidents seem to be a lot more orchestrated, involve knives and, increasingly, guns of one sort or another. The situation has become a great deal more dangerous for those journalists sent to cover the story.

The Institute has become increasingly worried about the possibility of serious harm coming to a journalist covering such incidents and has, for some time, claimed that without proper training and safety equipment it is only a matter of time before someone gets injured.

A recent report by the Association of Chief Police Officers claims that knife attacks in counties that are normally considered as benign rural areas have increased in the last couple of years – such as Lincolnshire (24 per cent) and Devon (41 per cent). The Institute contends that this is worrying proof that violent action is no longer an inner city, or sink estate, problem and journalists throughout the country could find themselves covering public unrest stories without adequate ‘safety first’ training or protective clothing.

It could be argued that to send journalists into dangerous situations without adequate training and safety equipment contravenes health and safety regulations for the UK. Certainly, it is the Institute’s view that to do so ignores the moral obligation employers have toward their staff.

For the sake of a couple of hundred pounds, photographers and journalists can be equipped with a stab proof vest which would go a long way to preventing serious harm. It is the Institute’s view that it is time for newspaper proprietors and broadcasting organisations to take responsibility for their staff and issue these items as standard equipment.

The Institute has produced a guide giving advice on basic safety for journalists who may find themselves on the frontline of newsgathering. Click here to view the guide on-line.

To obtain a free copy of Revolting Britain!

please send a sae to CIoJ, 2 Dock Offices Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU

More information on what the Institute has said about safety can be found on our news page on this site.

A journalist’s safety guide to covering public disorder stories and others in similar dangerous circumstances.

Journalists have always found themselves the target of mindless violence when covering stories of public disorder. Those journalists of the old school ironically hark back to the ‘good ole days’ of flying bricks and bottles while covering the union strikes of the ’70s.

In recent times, however, there has been a notable shift in the kind of violence that pertains at such incidents, like the riots seen in Birmingham during 2005 and those witnessed at football matches. Firstly, with the use of mobile technology the incidents seem to be a lot more orchestrated, involve knives and, increasingly, guns of one sort or another. The situation has become a great deal more dangerous for those journalists sent to cover the story.

The Institute has become increasingly worried about the possibility of serious harm coming to a journalist covering such incidents and has, for some time, claimed that without proper training and safety equipment it is only a matter of time before someone gets injured.

A recent report by the Association of Chief Police Officers claims that knife attacks in counties that are normally considered as benign rural areas have increased in the last couple of years – such as Lincolnshire (24 per cent) and Devon (41 per cent). The Institute contends that this is worrying proof that violent action is no longer an inner city, or sink estate, problem and journalists throughout the country could find themselves covering public unrest stories without adequate ‘safety first’ training or protective clothing.

It could be argued that to send journalists into dangerous situations without adequate training and safety equipment contravenes health and safety regulations for the UK. Certainly, it is the Institute’s view that to do so ignores the moral obligation employers have toward their staff.

For the sake of a couple of hundred pounds, photographers and journalists can be equipped with a stab proof vest which would go a long way to preventing serious harm. It is the Institute’s view that it is time for newspaper proprietors and broadcasting organisations to take responsibility for their staff and issue these items as standard equipment.

The Institute has produced a guide giving advice on basic safety for journalists who may find themselves on the frontline of newsgathering. Click here to view the guide on-line.

To obtain a free copy of Revolting Britain!

please send a sae to CIoJ, 2 Dock Offices Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU

More information on what the Institute has said about safety can be found on our news page on this site.