Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 119943 on Journalism: Protection, what assessment her Department has been made of the potential impact of private investigators intimidating journalists on the level of press freedom.

The Government is committed to defending the invaluable role of a free and independent media. Harassment and intimidation of journalists is unacceptable and incompatible with a healthy and functioning democracy.

Through the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, which brings DCMS together with the Home Office, criminal justice partners, civil society and media organisations, we work to ensure journalists can carry out their work free from threats, intimidation and violence. The Committee's National Action Plan supports efforts to improve the safety of journalists operating in the UK.

The Department also engages regularly with media organisations on current threats facing journalists and developments affecting the media landscape, including allegations of intimidation. Issues shared by the industry help to inform the work of the National Committee.