English Vanguard

Protecting Communities. Demanding Accountability.

Confidential Sources

Submit a Secure Tip

If you have information about wrongdoing, safeguarding failures, or matters of urgent public interest in England, English Vanguard wants to hear from you safely and confidentially.

Important

Our secure submission channels (Signal, SecureDrop, and encrypted email) are not yet configured but will be available very soon. Until then, please send tips and story leads to newsroom@englishvanguard.co.uk. Do not use these channels below until we announce they are live; messages sent through them will not be received.

Before You Reach Out

Not every tip requires anonymous submission. For general story ideas or non-sensitive information, email us at newsroom@englishvanguard.co.uk or use our contact page. Use the secure methods below once they are live, when revealing your identity could put you at risk or when the material is highly sensitive.

English Vanguard follows strict protocols for handling confidential sources. Our editors evaluate tips for newsworthiness and verify information through independent reporting before publication. We do not publish raw, unverified allegations.

Signal

Coming soonRecommended

Signal is an encrypted messaging app for phone and desktop. Messages are end-to-end encrypted and the service collects minimal metadata.

  1. Download Signal from signal.org or your device's app store.
  2. Add our tips line once Signal is live (coming soon).
  3. Enable disappearing messages if you prefer (Settings → Privacy → Disappearing messages).
  4. Do not include identifying details in your username or profile photo.

Note: Signal requires a phone number to register. Consider using a prepaid SIM or secondary number if anonymity is critical.

SecureDrop

Coming soonRecommended

SecureDrop is an open-source submission system designed for anonymous document sharing. It is accessed through the Tor network.

  1. Install the Tor Browser from torproject.org.
  2. Navigate to our SecureDrop onion address: englishvanguard.securedrop.onion (placeholder, not active in this demo).
  3. Follow the instructions to generate a codename. Save it securely; it is the only way to check for replies.
  4. Upload documents or messages through the SecureDrop interface.

Note: Do not access SecureDrop from a work network or device that could be monitored. Use a public Wi-Fi network if possible.

Encrypted Email (PGP)

Coming soon

You may encrypt email using PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) and send it to our investigations desk.

  1. Install a PGP-compatible email client or browser extension (e.g., Mailvelope, ProtonMail).
  2. Import our public key (fingerprint placeholder: A1B2 C3D4 E5F6 7890 ABCD EF12 3456 7890 ABCD EF12).
  3. Compose your message and encrypt it to our public key before sending.
  4. Send encrypted mail to: newsroom@englishvanguard.co.uk

Note: Email metadata (sender address, subject line, timestamps) may still be visible to your email provider. SecureDrop or Signal are preferred for sensitive material.

Operational Security Tips

  • Assume your employer, internet provider, or device manufacturer may monitor activity on work-issued or personal devices connected to corporate networks.
  • Do not discuss your tip with colleagues, friends, or on social media before or after submission.
  • Avoid searching for tip-related terms on devices or accounts tied to your identity.
  • If you need to share documents, photograph or scan them rather than forwarding original files when possible; originals may contain metadata.
  • We never reveal the identity of confidential sources without their consent, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Legal Notice

While we work to protect sources, no communication method is 100% secure. Laws regarding reporter-source privilege vary by jurisdiction. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. If you are concerned about legal exposure, consult an independent solicitor before contacting us.