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Dealing with tabloid journalists
The hallmark of sensationalist tabloid reporting is generating fear and outrage, invariably in defence of deeply partisan, reactionary politics. Campaigners who use direct action and civil disobedience tactics are often seen as a target for this kind of “journalism”. In particular, reporters have turned up at meetings or attended online discussions looking for gossip and…
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Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for online privacy
Tech advice remains current for a short time. This article was changed to our newer VPN guide in December 2025. When and why should you use a VPN When you don’t use a VPN your Internet Service Provider (ISP the company or institution providing your connection) can see the links you are accessing, though they…
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Blurring faces in videos
Video shared online is a significant source of intelligence for the police and so – if you consider the risk warrants protecting someone’s identity – you may want to blur faces in a video clip before sharing it on social media. There are a number of tools that offer this. These resources come and go,…
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Reasons to wear a mask at a protest
Wear a mask to protest your health and others. The coronavirus pandemic is not over, 2 million people in the UK are now experiencing long COVID and tens of thousands of people who have a weakened immune system remain clinically vulnerable. Everyone wearing a mask is a way of offering safety and solidarity to people…
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Help! The police have taken my phone
If you are arrested, the police can seize your phone as evidence. You may not get your device back in a workable condition or at all if police seize it, which is why we would always advise you NOT to carry your phone if you think you may be arrested. Police do not have the…
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How and why to use an anonymous Signal account
This article was made obsolete in 2025 when Signal changed it’s security settings. What is Signal? Signal is a secure messaging application, which allows you to send encrypted messages to your contacts. We recommend anyone sending instant messages or setting up chat groups for political organising uses a secure platform like Signal, in order to…
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Planning protests involving direct action or civil disobedience
Use the process of managing low/medium/high risks as the basis for planning your action if there is a prospect of arrests, media attention or police surveillance. As members of your campaign or group, consider together: Divide up responsibilities Every decision need not involve everyone – so divide up your planning and organising into separate teams:…
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What are Police Liaison Officers?
The presence of uniformed officers at many demonstrations around Britain, who wear light blue bibs with “Police Liaison Officer” on the back, has become commonplace. They seem more friendly than other officers, but their efforts to chat with protesters hide their true role. Police leaders claim their job is to undertake what is misleadingly called…
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Managing risks to your campaign group
Like “never cross a picket line”, the principle that we “look out for each other” should become ingrained in the ways we organise. But too often the way campaigners talk about security is all or nothing. Make a plan Rather than muddling though and hoping everything will work out – make a plan that everyone…
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Advice on Livestreaming
When live-streaming protests, there is a danger of crossing the line from your sense of undertaking “citizen journalism” to becoming essentially a CCTV cameras – a camera that unlike the ones used by the state, quite often comes with a “director’s commentary”. To avoid inadvertently incriminating demonstrators and livestream carefully and safely, consider the following:…