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.

Swindon Evening Advertiser
A woman complained that the newspaper had reported an inquest into the death of her husband in an insensitive manner, especially by making unnecessary reference to the details of his recent arrest which had not been disclosed by the coroner. (Clause 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper provided a personal apology and a small donation to a nominated charity.

Burton Mail
A woman complained that an article on the tragic death of her sister was insensitive and unnecessarily named the victim and her children. She considered that the manner of publication failed to take into consideration the feelings, especially of the children, at such a difficult time. (Clause 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper wrote a private letter of apology to the complainant and her family.

Daily Record
A man complained that the graphic headline of an article, which described the tragic death of his sister, was insensitive and unacceptable. (Clause 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the complainant indicated he wished to take the matter no further following an undertaking from the newspaper that it would mark its files to ensure that any reference to her death in the future would be dealt with sensitivity.

The Herald (Hertfordshire)
M Bluffield of Stevenage complained that an article about her daughter’s court case and subsequent conviction for theft unnecessarily included details about her son-in-law and grandson that could have led to their identification. (Clause 10)
Resolution: The newspaper wrote a private letter of apology to the relatives of the complainant affected by the article.

Stevenage Comet
M Bluffield of Stevenage complained that an article about her daughter’s court case and subsequent conviction for theft unnecessarily included details about her son-in-law and grandson that could have led to their identification. (Clause 10)
Resolution: The newspaper wrote a private letter of apology to the relatives of the complainant affected by the article.

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