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.

Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald
A man from Scotland complained that the newspaper had provided sufficient information to identify him as a victim of sexual assault. (Clause 12)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper provided a letter of apology to the complainant and an undertaking to take into consideration the issues raised in the complaint for future reporting of such sensitive cases.

Irvine Times
A man from Scotland complained that the newspaper had provided sufficient information to identify him as a victim of sexual assault. (Clause 12)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper provided a letter of apology to the complainant and an undertaking to take into consideration the issues raised in the complaint for future reporting of such sensitive cases.

Yorkshire Evening Post
David Monks of Huddersfield complained that an article reporting his pay increase was inaccurate and misleading. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The matter was resolved when the newspaper published a correction and apology.

Daily Echo (Southampton)
A Rashley complained that two news articles on surrogacy via the internet invaded his privacy by publishing the name of his road. (Clause 3)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper undertook to withhold the road name in any future coverage of the story.

Evening Standard
Gerry Coulter of Hertfordshire complained that an article inaccurately described a website he oversaw as being pro-British National Party. In fact, the website (www.dorsetpolice.com) – a databank of criticism against Dorset Police Force – accepted material from many contributors but made clear that it did not necessarily agree with their politics. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The matter was resolved when the newspaper published a clarification.

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