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Latest resolved complaints dealt with by the PCC

The majority of complaints made to the Press Complaints Commission, which raise a possible breach of the Code of Practice, are resolved directly between the Commission’s staff, editors and complainants.

These are either settled to the express satisfaction of the complainant following some remedial action by the editor or are not pursued by complainants following an explanation or other response from the publication.

Below are summaries of the latest complaints involving the regional press which fall into the first category.

News Shopper
Gavin Seagers, of computer company ‘PC Boffin’, Kent, complained that an article had inaccurately suggested that he actively sought out work with children when, in fact, the only time he had agreed to meet a parent to discuss tutoring a child was following an approach from another newspaper, the intention of which was to entrap him. The complainant also said that, contrary to the claim in the article, he had never fantasised online about abducting and torturing children. He finally pointed out that he was not considered a significant enough risk to children in order to justify proceeding with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper arranged for its records to be amended detailing the facts which the complainant had disputed within the article.

Northumberland Gazette
A woman complained that an article had inaccurately set out that her son had been taken to Alnwick police station and searched for drugs. In fact, the police van had not made it to the station due to an accident, and the complainant’s son had been told to leave. The complainant was also concerned that the photograph of her son did not adequately conceal his identity. (Clauses 1, 3)
Resolution: The newspaper explained that it had received the information for the article from the police, and that it had attempted to conceal the boy’s identity by pixellating his face and using a black and white photograph. It offered to publish a further story explaining the real version of events. However, the complaint was resolved when the complainant spoke privately to the editor. She accepted that the newspaper had acted in good faith, but did not want anything further to appear in the press.

Pontypridd Observer
Rachel Hughes, of Llantrisant, complained that the article inaccurately contended that a horse found dead at the side of the road was a victim of a hit and run accident. In fact, she indicated that the driver of the car involved in the incident had immediately reported it to the police, who decided that the driver had not been at fault. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The newspaper explained that it had published the report in good faith. However, it published a clarification making clear that the driver of the car had reported the incident, and that the police had indicated that the driver had not been at fault.