Resolved complaints dealt with by the PCC during January 2002

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.

Listed here are summaries of complaints involving the regional press which fall into the first category.

News Post Leader
Mr D Walker complained that an article, which reported the recent death of his wife, was insensitive and intrusive in breach of Clause 5 of the Code. (Clause: 5)
Resolution: The newspaper wrote a letter of apology and regret for the distress caused by the article.

Evening Standard
Mr Anthony McDaid of Surrey complained that an article had inaccurately reported the price increase in central London taxi fares. (Clauses: 1)
Resolution: The newspaper published the correct rate of increase in taxi fares in a follow-up article and included a positive piece on the subject.

Colchester Evening Gazette
Mr P Stimpson, of Earls Colne, complained that an article was misleading in stating that the newspaper had been unable to contact him for comment on allegations that he had demanded a £1m pay-off from Essex Police following his suspension from the force. He claimed that he had been available had he been contacted at his home. (Clause: 1)
Resolution: The newspaper acknowledged that it had not attempted to contact Mr Stimpson at his home because it thought he had moved house. Arrangements were made to have the story amended in the newspaper’s cuttings archive and removed from the website archive.

Braintree and Witham Times
Mr P Stimpson, of Earls Colne, complained that an article was misleading in stating that the newspaper had been unable to contact him for comment on allegations that he had demanded a £1m pay-off from Essex Police following his suspension from the force. He claimed that he had been available had he been contacted at his home. (Clause: 1)
Resolution: The newspaper acknowledged that it had not attempted to contact Mr Stimpson at his home because it thought he had moved house. Arrangements were made to have the story amended in the newspaper’s cuttings archive and removed from the website archive.

Southend Evening Echo
Mr Peter Walker of Southend-on-Sea complained that a newspaper article did not reflect the position of many local people, that a road-widening scheme would encroach on parkland. The piece also did not include a full account of his own perspective on the matter, as established in a press release. (Clauses: 1)
Resolution: The newspaper published a follow-up article which clarified that the precise area of the park was in dispute, and included further details from the complainant’s press release.

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