Latest resolved complaints dealt with by the PCC during June, July and August 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.

Evening Star, Ipswich
S-J Gee complained that the newspaper had released a photograph, which included her two daughters, without establishing her consent. (clause: 6)
Resolution: The newspaper apologised and promised to review its procedures.

Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph
David Twitchings, of Rushden, complained that an article inaccurately stated that the Terry John Big Band, of which he was the musical director, had been unable to play at a Rushden Conservative Club fundraising event. (clause: 1)
Resolution: The matter was resolved when the newspaper published a correction and apology.

Daily Record
Robert McLean, the executive officer of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, complained that an article inaccurately suggested that a Kirk Committee report had described membership of both the Orange order and the Church of Scotland as incompatible. (clause: 13)
Resolution: The newspaper published a letter from the complainant, which emphasised that the Church of Scotland had never made such a statement.

Daily Record
Corporal Jamie Weaver complained that his photograph, taken during an exercise in the State of Oman, had been used to illustrate a story about an operation involving the Scots Marines on the Spanish Coast. (clause: 1)
Resolution: The newspaper apologised to the complainant and offered to publish a letter pointing out that he was not a member of the Marine assault team which landed in Spain.

Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard
Iris Baker of Tetbury complained that the newspaper had published an article in which she, as the mother of an arrested man mentioned, had been unnecessarily identified. (clause: 10)
Resolution: The newspaper published a mutually agreed apology.

Evening Standard
Torje Eike, physiotherapist and fitness trainer to Mick Jagger, complained that the newspaper had published an article about his client’s health regime that gave the incorrect impression that Mr Eike had spoken to the newspaper about such matters. (clause: 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a clarification and apology on this point.

Leatherhead Advertiser
Mr and Mrs P Harrison of Leatherhead complained that an article included sufficient information for their grandchildren to be identified. (clauses: 6, 10)
Resolution: The editor undertook not to identify the complainants’ grandchildren in any future articles.

Southern Daily Echo
Hampshire Constabulary complained on behalf of an officer that report on a potential support network for gay, lesbian and bisexual officers had contained misleading, intrusive and discriminatory material. (clauses: 1, 3, 13)
Resolution: The newspaper apologised to the officer and arranged to discuss the issues arising from the complaint in a meeting with members of Hampshire Constabulary.

Middlesbrough Evening Gazette
Mr Brown of Cleveland complained that a photograph was inaccurately labelled as depicting Middlesborough fans queuing for season tickets when in fact it showed supporters queuing for match tickets in the spring of 2002. (clause: 1)
Resolution: The newspaper published a correction.

Express & Star
M Dobson of Walsall complained that an article had included the inaccurate claim that her son had not given evidence in court. (clause: 1)
Resolution: The newspaper published a clarification on this point.

Scarborough Evening News
Jay Spencer, Managing Director of the fbi.agency, complained that an article inaccurately suggested that producers working for Yorkshire Television were looking for television extras. In fact, it was his agency that made the appeal.(clause: 1)
Resolution: The newspaper published a correction and apology.

Complaints from May

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