Better relations between the press and police have been pledged by the Home Office, according to the NUJ.

A long-awaited meeting took place yesterday between Jeremy Dear, National Union of Journalists general secretary, and Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker to address the union’s concerns over press freedoms.

The meeting focussed on the police forcing journalists to reveal confidential sources and monitoring of reporters and photographers at events such as public protests.

Jeremy said that, although this was the early stages of progress, he believed the meeting resulted in some proposals that could help make a difference to NUJ members.

“This is a first step in trying to tackle the problems our members face,” he said.

“There was clear recognition on the part of the authorities that there have been genuine problems and incidents in the past.

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to work with the NUJ to find ways in which police officers can be better informed about their responsibilities to the press and how the police-media guidelines can be made to work in practice.

“The proof will be in the coming weeks and months when we see whether the experiences of our members in dealing with the police improve.”

The Association of Chief Police Officers published guidelines for officers on how to deal with journalists including that they shouldn’t be obstructed in the course of their work.

The NUJ said it was acknowledged during the meeting that there had been inappropriate uses of the police’s power to restrict photography in public and more could be done to ensure officers were aware of the ACPO guidelines.

The Government had offered to work with the union to find ways in which those guidelines could be more effectively implemented, a NUJ statement said.

Referring to journalists being forced to reveal sources, Jeremy added: “The Government has agreed to investigate whether guidance can be produced to make it clear to the police where the balance falls in relation to a journalist’s right to protect their sources.

“We’ll be looking for this to include an emphasis on production orders being a tool of last resort.

“Journalistic material mustn’t be seen by the police as an easy route to intelligence gathering. That would undermine the very future of investigative journalism.”

The union is also hoping to be involved in training police officers on proper understanding of the role of journalists.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We welcome the constructive approach taken by the NUJ and the increased co-operation agreed by the Metropolitan Police to develop clearer working relationships between the police and the NUJ and their members.”