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<p>Journalists play a vital role in our society, as do the public representatives
who have defended press freedoms. It is unacceptable that they should find themselves
threatened for doing their job. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made this
clear last month when he signed the public statement issued by the National Union
of Journalists, calling for the freedom of the press to be respected and protected.</p><p>Plans
for the National Committee and the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists
are currently being developed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media &
Sport, but have been necessarily delayed as the Government turns its attention to
supporting newspapers through the current Covid-19 crisis. However, the Committee
and the Action Plan remain priorities for the UK Government.</p><p>Her Majesty’s Government
gives the fullest possible support to efforts to tackle the threat from the groups
involved in terrorism and paramilitarism in Northern Ireland, supporting the Police
Service of Northern Ireland with additional security funding and the Northern Ireland
Executive’s programme to tackle paramilitary activity, criminality and organised crime.</p><p>The
Police Service of Northern Ireland works tirelessly to prevent crime and harm to individuals,
including journalists, protect the vulnerable and detect those who commit crime and
bring them before the courts.</p>
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