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.

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle upon Tyne)
D Cronogue, of Newcastle Upon Tyne, complained that an article reporting that a body was found underneath the Tyne Bridge included an image of the covered body. The complainant was the deceased man's mother and saw the article before the police had informed her of her son's death. (Clause 5)
Resolution: The editor sent the complainant a detailed letter of apology and a bunch of flowers. He sent a memo to the members of staff who had included the picture to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future. The editor also provided a written undertaking not to publish the image under complaint again.

Kidderminster Shuttle
A lawyer from Worcester complained that an article on a Disciplinary Tribunal in which she was involved contained major inaccuracies, including the wrong outcome. This gave the impression that the complainant was "struck off" when in fact she had won her case. (Clauses 1, 3, 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper – which acknowledged the errors in the report which originally came from a news agency – removed the offending article from its website and swiftly published a correction and apology.

East Grinstead Observer
Clare Turnball-Allen complained that a newspaper report of the inquest into the death of her brother contained inaccuracies and was insensitive. (Clauses 1, 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the editor of the newspaper, who accepted that the article was insensitive, sent a personal letter of apology to the complainant and her family.

East Grinstead Courier
Amanda Jones complained, on behalf of her family, that a newspaper report of the inquest into the death of Stephen Turnbull-Allen contained inaccuracies and was insensitive. (Clauses 1, 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the editor of the newspaper, who accepted that the article was insensitive, sent a personal letter of apology to the complainant and her family.

Bury Times
Mr and Mrs Younger, of Prestwich, complained that an article reporting a planning dispute over the extension of their home contained inaccuracies. (Clause 5)
Resolution: The editor agreed to publish a follow-up piece clarifying the complainant's final position on the matter.

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