On Wednesday 29 April 2015 our Criminal law department held a seminar on Protecting Journalistic Material.

Convened by Katie Wheatley, Partner at Bindmans LLP, with speakers Martin Rackstraw, Partner at Bindmans LLP, Alex Bailin QC, Barrister at Matrix Chambers and Matthew Ryder QC, Barrister at Matrix Chambers.

The debate focused on the much discussed issue of protection of journalistic source material and the most recent developments in this dynamic area of law, both at domestic and international level and the practical implications of recent legislative proposals for those working in this area.

Please click the below links to download:

• Protecting Journalistic Material (presentation slides)
• Speaker Biographies
• Criminal law team – Working with Journalists and Media Organisations

Useful links:​

• Acquisition and Disclosure of Communications Data Code of Practice (March 2015)
• Save Our Sources law comes into force: Police now banned from viewing journalists’ call records without OK of judge (Press Gazette, March 2015)
• Summary of Bureau of Investigative Journalism case
• Intelligence and Security Committee Report: ‘Privacy and Security: a modern and transparent legal framework’

News Articles:

• Warning from media lawyers that journalists’ sources are still at risk from police records grabs (Press Gazette, May 2015)