A record number of complaints were successfully conciliated last year by the Press Complaints Commission.

Despite a slight drop in the number of complaints made – from 3,649 to 3,618 – the Commission achieved its highest number of resolved complaints, with 98 per cent of cases involving a possible breach of the Editors’ Code of Practice reaching a negotiated solution.

Just under half of its investigated complaints related to regional, Scottish or Northern Irish titles, compared with 44 per cent for the nationals.

The workload included complaints from ordinary people (92.2 per cent), organisations and public bodies (5.5 per cent) and people in the public eye (2.3 per cent).

The Commission claims the sheer number of negotiated solutions shows that legislation is not required to protect the public.

Investigating accuracy complaints provides the Commission with the bulk of its work, Of 713 complaints, 333 were found to raise a possible breach of the editors’ Code of Practice, and 327 were successfully negotiated with six being upheld at adjudication.

Chairman Sir Christopher Meyer said in his annual report: “These figures are a clear riposte to those who believe that there should be a legally-enforceable right of reply. There is simply no need for one.”

There were 218 investigations into privacy complaints, with just over half involving possible breaches of the Code.

He said: “The report also paints a fascinating picture about the nature of privacy.

“Despite the wider prophecies of some commentators, there has still been no rush to the courts to test the extending law of confidence and the application of the Human Rights Act.

“This should hardly be surprising – while the Commission offers discreet, quick, risk-free and meaningful resolutions to such problems – and free pre-publication advice – actions in the courts are conducted in full public view, antagonistic, costly, and frequently take years to resolve.

“This report also underlines the scope of the Commission’s work nationally and internationally, and highlights our constant attempts to improve the range and quality of our service.

“We are far more than just a reactive complaints handling body – although I think it is fair to say that our record in that regard, illustrated by the record number of resolved complaints last year, is rather impressive.”

Sir Christopher also spoke out in support of the balance of the Commission, which includes seven editors as well as ten lay members.

He said: “The presence of seven editors on the Commission – the sole representation that the industry has within it – is absolutely vital if we are to continue to issue sensible adjudications that command respect within the industry we are regulating and beyond.”