The UK’s first national action plan aimed at protecting journalists from abuse and harassment has been published by the government with the backing of police and union leaders.

Reporters have told of suffering abuse and attacks, such as being punched, threatened with knives, forcibly detained and subjected to rape and death threats, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said.

Commitments in the action plan include training for police officers and journalists, while prosecution services across the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to taking a robust approach to crimes against reporters.

Civil servants in DCMS and the Home Office are to launch a call for evidence to build a better understanding of threats and abuse against journalists in order to tackle the issue.

A survey of members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in November found more than half of respondents had experienced online abuse and nearly a quarter had been physically assaulted or attacked.

In November, two journalists working for the Sunday World newspaper were contacted by police and told of a series of “imminent threats” of attack by criminals and loyalist paramilitaries including the west Belfast Ulster Defence Association.

It came days after it was disclosed that a journalist working for the Belfast Telegraph had been threatened by a loyalist paramilitary group.

A senior reporter for Newsquest in Cumbria was forced into hiding under police protection in May after receiving death and rape threats.

Boris Johnson provided a statement of support for the plan. The prime minister said: “Freedom of speech and a free press are at the very core of our democracy, and journalists must be able to go about their work without being threatened.

“The cowardly attacks and abuse directed at reporters for simply doing their job cannot continue. This action plan is just the start of our work to protect those keeping the public informed, and defend those holding the government to account.”

As part of the national action plan, Facebook and Twitter have committed to respond promptly to complaints of threats to journalists’ safety online, according to DCMS.

The joint effort by law enforcement, broadcasters, publishers, industry bodies, unions and the government has been endorsed by the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists.

The government said the action plan supported wider work ministers were carrying out to uphold freedom of speech, under the forthcoming online safety bill.

The NUJ general secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, said: “Attacks on journalists are designed to silence and intimidate those who work to uphold the public’s right to know. NUJ members have shared horrific experiences of being attacked, abused and threatened – on and offline – simply for doing their job.

“It’s clear that reported incidents are the tip of the iceberg and that harassment and abuse has become normalised. This action plan, with its range of practical measures and protections, is an important step towards changing that and ensuring journalists can get on with their vital work free from harassment or intimidation.”

Ian Murray, the executive director of the Society of Editors, said: “The action plan recognises the urgency of protecting journalists carrying out their vital role in protecting democracy.

“Due to their role in holding the powerful and those in authority to task journalists attract strong reactions. But this should not manifest itself in ways that threaten journalists and their families. This action plan makes that clear.”