Editors have welcomed government plans to protect journalists who are targeted by “intimidating” legal threats.

The Society of Editors has praised the expected inclusion of specific protections in law for journalists and individuals at risk of being targeted by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, commonly referred to as SLAPPs.

Critics have previously warned that the wealthy and powerful are able to use SLAPPs to avoid scrutiny and criticism through pre-publication legal intimidation and threats to sue.

But now, a Government-backed amendment to the Economic Crime Bill, focusing on economic crime, would make it harder for the rich and powerful to attempt to intimidate and silence critics through time-consuming and costly litigation and is expected to include an early-dismissal mechanism.

The amendment is also anticipated to include powers for judges to consider whether claimants are deliberately targeting an individual journalist rather than their employer.

However, it is not expected to include a cap on defendants’ legal costs – a key demand that campaigners, including the Society of Editors, have called for.

SoE executive director Dawn Alford, pictured, said: “The expected inclusion of this new amendment by the government is a welcome and significant first step in tackling SLAPPs and putting an end to the ability of the rich and powerful to weaponise and abuse the legal system to silence and intimidate their critics.

“Moving forward, it is essential that the government builds on this first step by also introducing further protections including a cap on costs to protect individuals from the threat of costly and prolonged litigation as well as sufficient penalties to deter the use of SLAPPs as an attractive method of intimidation.”