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.

Bristol Evening Post
Andrew Riccio complained that an article reporting that a man was being taken to court over his refusal to pay a bill for roofing repairs was misleading in its failure to mention that a reduced offer had been made to the man by the complainant's company. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a clarification making clear that the complainant's company had offered to accept payment of funds received by the man from his insurance company, which would have ensured that the man would not have to pay the excess required under the terms of his insurance policy.

Hastings and St Leonard's Observer
P Ashley of Hastings complained that an article had inaccurately contended that his court case had been adjourned to determine the ownership of a fence he had been accused of damaging. It had also misrepresented his age. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a follow up story, making clear that the complainant had been accused of damaging a fence – an accusation which he had denied – and that the charge had been withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service. The article also made clear that the complainant had been 62 at the time of the alleged offence.

South Wales Evening Post
Evelyn Isaac complained that an article which reported her previous conviction for animal cruelty, following an incident with her dogs whilst driving in her car, contained a number of inaccuracies. The complainant was especially concerned that the circumstances of the case – which related to the speed at which she was driving, the distance travelled, the way in which the dogs were attached to the car and the extent of their injuries – had been misrepresented. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper amended its records to take account of the complainant's position.

News Shopper
Nipul Desai, a licensee of Flux nightclub, complained that an article had inaccurately claimed that he and his partners Anne-Marie Randall, Iain Buchan and Wendy Prowse had been prosecuted for illegally promoting events. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a clarification making clear that Bromley Council had provided the wrong information, and that it was four other individuals who had been prosecuted for illegal fly-posting.

North Devon Journal
Deborah Burnside of Ilfacombe complained that a reader's letter had contained a number of inaccuracies with reference to an incident that took place on a dog walk. Specifically, the complainant was concerned that Mrs Mutton – the author of the letter – had not mentioned the fact that she had acted violently towards the dog – owned by the complainant's friend – and abusively towards the complainant and her friend. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published an edited version of the complainant's letter which set out that Mrs Mutton had acted violently and abusively and that – as a result – the complainant had reported her to the RSPCA.