Latest resolved complaints dealt with by the PCC during January, February and March 2002

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.

Listed here are summaries of complaints involving the regional press which fall into the first category.

Express & Echo
Sherree Hatch of Exeter complained that an article reporting her gratitude towards a number of strangers who stopped to help her daughter after she was involved in a road traffic accident had contained inaccuracies. (Clause: 1)
Resolution: The newspaper published an apology and clarification making clear that the complainant had not accepted liability for the accident and that she had been inaccurately quoted in parts of the article.

South Wales Evening Post
A man from Port Talbot complained that a photograph of a gravestone and accompanying article reporting that South Wales Police had applied for permission to exhume his half-brother in connection with crimes committed in the 1970s had presented conjecture as fact, identified relatives of the accused, and intruded into his family’s privacy. (Clause: 1, 3, 10)
Resolution: The newspaper tagged the photograph to limit the possibility of future publication, and undertook to report the outcome of the investigation while bearing in mind the conflicting sensitivities involved.

Muswell Hill Journal
Mr E Maher complained that an article, reporting the death of his nephew, was intrusive at a particular time of grief for his family. (Clause: 3, 5)
Resolution: The editor sent a personal letter of apology and condolence to the complainant.

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