'It was a dark time' Photographers fear for their safety as they are targeted in violent attacks

Violence from the far right against press photographers is getting worse, with the last few days leaving them fearing for their safety, the National Union of Journalists has said.

- Robyn Vinter

The union called for those who are intimidating news gatherers to be prosecuted, after a number of photographers, reporters and camera crew were abused, attacked and had their equipment destroyed or stolen.

Bectu, the union for those who work behind the scenes in broadcasting, also backed the call, condemning "the appalling harassment and abuse" media professionals had faced in riots in the last week, as far-right violence has erupted in parts of the UK.

This was a continuation of a trend, said Natasha Hirst, the chair of the NUJ photographers' council and the president of the NUJ.

"We've seen it increasingly over the last few years that anyone who is obviously a journalist, in terms of being photographer, videographer or TV crew, that they tend to get targeted, especially by far-right protesters," she said.

There needed to be increased public awareness about the role of journalists, she added. "Without us doing the job that we do, we do not have a functioning democracy, we don't have accurate, reliable information that people need."