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.

East Lothian Courier
John Lindsay, chief executive of East Lothian Council, complained that letters of dubious authenticity had been published on the letters page of the newspaper. His main allegation centred on the use of bogus names and addresses by correspondents. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when, as requested, the newspaper provided copies of the original readers’ letters. The newspaper also instituted additional safeguards at the first suggestion of potential abuse. A box now appears on the letters page making clear that the full name, address and day time telephone number of the writer would have to be provided for a letter to be considered for publication.

Salford Advertiser
Councillors John Cullen and Bill Hinds complained that an article had inaccurately suggested that they had failed to attend a public meeting despite receiving personal invitations. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a clarification which made clear that the complainants had not received personal invitations and it was not for the reason of a lack of party political balance that Councillor Hinds did not attend the meeting.

Birmingham Post
Edward G Hulse of HMP Dovegate complained that an article which reported his prison sentence contained inaccuracies, primarily that he had previously been convicted of supplying ecstasy. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a clarification which explained that the complainant did not have any previous drugs convictions.