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Press intrusion complaints rise Press intrusion complaints rise
(about 4 hours later)
Complaints about privacy and intrusion to the press watchdog rose over the last year, it has emerged. Complaints about privacy and intrusion made to the press watchdog rose the last year, it has emerged.
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC), in its annual report, said it resolved many more cases than ended up in court. The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) received 231 privacy-related complaints last year - a slight increase on 2005. It said 96 were settled amicably.
Last year the PCC received 231 privacy related complaints - a slight increase on the previous year - of which 96 were settled amicably. However, the PCC said in its annual report that overall complaints about UK newspapers and magazines were down.
Publicity given to privacy cases which went to court wrongly suggested a move away from the PCC, stated the report. Commission chairman Sir Christopher Meyer said: "The single biggest source of complaints is about accuracy."
Sir Christopher Meyer, PCC chairman, said: "Far from seeing a diminution in work on privacy we have seen an increase in the number of privacy issues." The watchdog said it successfully resolved a record number of complaints - up 20% from the previous year.
The Commission, which is a self regulatory body funded by the newspaper and magazine industry, was available to deal with privacy issues 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said. 'Privacy issues'
Sir Christopher said: "Far from seeing a diminution in work on privacy we have seen an increase in the number of privacy issues."
The Commission, which is a self-regulatory body funded by the newspaper and magazine industry, was available to deal with privacy issues 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said.
Sir Christopher added that its procedures and previous adjudications meant guidance was available to editors on the principles to apply when deciding whether or not to publish stories.Sir Christopher added that its procedures and previous adjudications meant guidance was available to editors on the principles to apply when deciding whether or not to publish stories.
The Commission made a number of important new privacy rulings in 2006 PCC reportThe Commission made a number of important new privacy rulings in 2006 PCC report
The PCC published a total of 19 adjudications concerning privacy in some way.The PCC published a total of 19 adjudications concerning privacy in some way.
The complaints were upheld in five of these cases.The complaints were upheld in five of these cases.
The majority of privacy cases - 46% - related to regional and local press, which the report said was not surprising due to the size of that sector.The majority of privacy cases - 46% - related to regional and local press, which the report said was not surprising due to the size of that sector.
And 38.4% of the complaints involved the national press, 8.9% related to the Scottish press, 5.4% involved magazines and 1.3% came from Northern Ireland.And 38.4% of the complaints involved the national press, 8.9% related to the Scottish press, 5.4% involved magazines and 1.3% came from Northern Ireland.
"To that end, the Commission made a number of important new privacy rulings in 2006, relating to children, photographs of people at work, intrusion into grief, confidential sources and privacy and pregnancy, among others," the report said."To that end, the Commission made a number of important new privacy rulings in 2006, relating to children, photographs of people at work, intrusion into grief, confidential sources and privacy and pregnancy, among others," the report said.
Offering assistanceOffering assistance
Sir Christopher said the PCC also did a great deal to protect people from harassment when they became involved in major stories.Sir Christopher said the PCC also did a great deal to protect people from harassment when they became involved in major stories.
By way of example, he said it offered Suffolk police assistance in the case of the Ipswich murders.By way of example, he said it offered Suffolk police assistance in the case of the Ipswich murders.
The total number of complaints about UK newspapers and magazines and their websites fell slightly to 3,325.
The document added that 418 complaints - 78% of the number which represented a possible breach of the Code of Practice - were resolved last year, a rise of 20% over the figure for 2005 and the highest total in the PCC's history.The document added that 418 complaints - 78% of the number which represented a possible breach of the Code of Practice - were resolved last year, a rise of 20% over the figure for 2005 and the highest total in the PCC's history.
And in a further 20% of such cases, the PCC judged that offers not accepted by the complainant were proportionate and suitable.And in a further 20% of such cases, the PCC judged that offers not accepted by the complainant were proportionate and suitable.
And just 2% of possible breaches were not met with a sufficient offer from the editor. These complaints were all upheld.And just 2% of possible breaches were not met with a sufficient offer from the editor. These complaints were all upheld.