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.

Evening Standard
Sarah Kidd of London complained that an article, which appeared six months after the death of her partner from injuries sustained in an explosion on his boat, intruded into her private grief and shock. The description of two ambulance men’s role in the tragedy was, she said, full of lurid detail, inaccuracy and an offensive insinuation about the woman also injured on the night. She said the words used by the newspaper should have been chosen with more discretion and checked thoroughly for accuracy. (Clauses 1, 5)
Resolution: The managing editor of the newspaper apologised for the hurt the complainant had endured through reliving the incident. Subsequently, the newspaper published the complainant’s letter setting out her strong criticism of the article, contrasting its shocking directness with the sensitive way in which the tragedy had been dealt with by the inquest journalist. Although the complainant remained dissatisfied, believing the newspaper should have taken more responsibility for the content of the article, she decided not to pursue the case further insofar as the PCC’s investigation was concerned.

Oxford Mail
Chris Boswell of Oxford complained that the published version of a letter he had written to the newspaper in support of the owner of Osney Marina was inaccurate, as the word “land” had been changed to “pond”. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a correction and sent a personal letter of apology to the complainant and the owner of the marina.

Biggleswade Chronicle
David Bodily, director of Liberty Process Limited, complained that an article reporting legal proceedings between the company and a third party was one-sided and misleading. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper – which explained that the report was based on publicly available documents from the High Court in London – gave an assurance that it would offer similar coverage of the outcome of proceedings.

Hampstead & Highgate Express
Nick Lowenstein of London complained that an article intruded into his privacy when it published the full text of an advertisement which featured his full address. (Clause 3)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper made clear that it was not its usual policy to publish full addresses and wrote a private letter of apology to the complainant. The newspaper also removed the article from its website and assisted in its removal from separate Internet sources.

Sunday Mercury
Gillian Powell of Birmingham complained, through Grahame Stowe Bateson Solicitors, that an article was inaccurate when it stated that her late brother Kevin Powell was a top-ranking member of the Burger Bar gang. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper – which stood by the accuracy of its confidential sources – published a clarification which outlined the complainant and her family’s position on the matter.

Leamington Spa Courier
Tracy Berry, operations manager of Sebright House, complained that an article had inaccurately contended that a patient at Sebright House Care Home had been admitted to hospital due to the neglect of carers at the home. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The matter was resolved when the newspaper agreed to publish a concise statement and apology, in addition to a positive double page feature on Sebright House.

Eastern Daily Press
J Walker of Great Yarmouth complained that an article which reported the death of his wife’s son had named the deceased before formal identification had taken place. (Clause 5)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the complainant accepted that the newspaper – which had been in contact with the complainant’s partner prior to publication – had acted in good faith.