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.

Malvern Gazette
Sean Kirtley, of Malvern, complained that the newspaper had published his full address in its initial report of a court case, despite this not appearing to be its general policy. (Clause 3)
Resolution: The newspaper accepted that its policy on full addresses (which depended on whether the report originated from an agency or its own reporter in court) was inconsistent. It did not consider, however, that this raised a breach of the Code and was unwilling to agree never to publish full addresses in court cases, as the complainant had suggested. It did offer to remove the house numbers from the online article in question.
The complainant was disappointed with the newspaper's reply and considered that the publication of full addresses before a case had been concluded put the safety of individuals in jeopardy and left them open to possible harassment from members of the public. Nonetheless, he accepted the newspaper's offer as a means of resolving the matter.

Mid-Sussex Times
A E Dunlop, of Lindfield, complained that an article which reported on his plans for developing new homes in Costells Wood as part of Mid Sussex Council’s small scale housing alternative study contained inaccuracies. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper – having consulted the complainant for his input – published an agreed follow-up article on the issue of small scale housing in the area.

Burton Mail
Paul Bristow, of Birmingham, complained that an article which reported his ex-wife’s allegations of domestic violence against him contained inaccuracies. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following clarification: On the 30th November 2005 we published an article about Paul Bristow based on statements made by his former wife, Wendy. Mr Bristow pleaded guilty to assaults on his ex-wife taking place in 2004 but was acquitted of rape alleged to have taken place in 2001. He further denies and was not charged with assaulting her on any prior occasion.

Press & Journal
A man complained that an article reporting on the ordeal of a Scottish student on a research project in Cameroon had contained a number of inaccuracies. He explained that the student's claims were now the subject of an investigation. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper undertook to report the outcome of the investigation once it was concluded.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle
Douglas Pearson, of the Park Hotel, complained that a report of an employment tribunal was inaccurate when it stated that the accountant at the centre of the case had worked for the establishment. He was also concerned that the report referred to a previous article from 2005 in which hygiene standards at the hotel had been criticised. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper agreed to meet with the complainant to discuss the possibility of reporting more positive aspects of the business in addition to marking its records to reflect the concerns raised.

Evening Standard
Peter Carey complained through Best & Soames Limited that an ES magazine feature on his recent divorce – based largely on an interview with his ex-wife – contained information which intruded into his privacy in breach of the Code. (Clause 3)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper removed the information from its websites, internal electronic archive and database, agreed not to publish it in future and published the following apology in the magazine and online: On 26 May we published an article about the novelist Peter Carey headlined “A Booker-winning Bust-Up”. The item contained private and personal details about Mr Carey to which he has objected. We apologise to him for distress and embarrassment caused.