BBC Scotland bosses have pledged to step up efforts to ensure its journalists are protected from abuse.
Action is being taken after a number of news crews reported being subjected to personal abuse from members of the public while on outside broadcasts.
It is understood news crews, including some female staff, suffered a level of abuse which left them fearing for their safety.
On one occasion, a crew had to move location due to ongoing verbal abuse.
Security was provided to staff at the time, but the BBC has now indicated it is likely to increase assistance for outside broadcasts.
The action comes at a time when concern is mounting about the abuse journalists often face online.
In addition to increasing security, the BBC has vowed to call out future instances of abuse when they happen at events by reporting them to organisers.
Staff were told about the action during a briefing at BBC Scotland’s headquarters in Glasgow.
Head of newsgathering Howard Simpson told them: “You do a fantastic job out in the field but we know there have been instances recently when some of you have had difficult situations to deal with as you go about your job.
“As ever, you deal with this really professionally – but be assured that if these incidents happen while covering organised events in future, we will call it out with organisers so that we reduce the chances of it happening again.
“Giving our audience as much information and as many facts as we can is crucial to what we do – no matter how uncomfortable that is for some vocal minorities who would rather hear only what they want.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here