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.

Southern Daily Echo
I W Ray of Southampton complained that approaches by the newspaper – accompanied by the taking of photographs of him inside his doorway – were in breach of Clause 3 (Privacy) and Clause 4 (Harassment).
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper – which accepted that the complainant should not have been approached a second time nor been photographed without his permission – sent the complainant a private letter of apology. The editor made clear that he had reprimanded the staff responsible and had destroyed the photograph in question.

Express & Star
Jane Payne of Stourport-on-Severn complained that an article on her application for retrospective planning permission contained inaccuracies. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a lengthy clarification on the matter.

The Journal
Paul Dixon of Throckley complained that the newspaper had published a letter about civil service standards which purported to be from him. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper accepted that the letter had not been verified prior to publication. The newspaper published a correction and unreserved apology to the complainant in addition to sending him a private letter of apology.