The Society of Editors has called for the government to ensure that clear legal protections for journalists are including in national security legislation following concerns raised that British foreign correspondents could be at risk of prosecution if they use sources within state-backed groups.

The national security (state threats) bill, which is expected to complete its final parliamentary stages this week, has been designed to allow the UK government to label state-backed groups such as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as terrorist organisations enabling them to be banned. The legislation will also create new criminal offences for people who “support, assist and obtain material benefits” from groups formally listed as state-supported threats.

The Guardian has reported today (Monday 29 June) that the former UK independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, David Anderson, has warned that unless the bill is amended it could accidentally pull journalists working in danger-zone countries into prosecutions for terrorism. Concerns have also been raised by Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation who has called for amendments to the bill.

Responding to the legislation, Dawn Alford, Chief Executive of the Society of Editors said: “National security and press freedom are not competing interests – they are both fundamental to a healthy democracy. The Society of Editors supports robust measures to protect the UK from hostile state activity, but legislation must also provide legal certainty for journalists carrying out legitimate public interest reporting.

“Foreign correspondents and investigative journalists often need to engage with dangerous organisations and individuals in order to expose wrongdoing and inform the public. They should not be left relying on prosecutorial discretion to determine whether legitimate newsgathering is lawful.

“If there is any ambiguity, Parliament should take the opportunity to make explicit on the face of the Bill that bona fide journalistic activity carried out in the public interest is not criminalised. Clear legal protection is preferable to relying on assurances about how the law may be applied.

“Getting this balance right will strengthen both our national security and our democracy by protecting the independent journalism on which an informed society depends.”