An Inquiry into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press

Volume IV: PARt J : AsPeCts oF RegulAtIon: the lAw And the

Section 2 of 67

Volume IV: PARt J : AsPeCts oF RegulAtIon: the lAw And the

PreSS COmPlAInTS COmmISSIOn — 1477
Chapter 1: Introduction — 1479
Chapter 2: the criminal law — 1480
1 Introduction — 1480
2 The investigation of crime: complaints to the police — 1482
3 The Investigation of crime: gathering evidence — 1485
4 A failure of policing — 1486
5 Police resources — 1488

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6 Public interest: a defence to crime — 1489
7 Public interest: the decision to prosecute — 1491
8 Public interest: other safeguards in the criminal process — 1494
9 The future — 1496
Chapter 3: The civil law — 1499
1 Introduction — 1499
2 Civil proceedings: the present risk of litigation — 1499
3 Litigation against the press — 1504
4 The substantive civil law — 1508
5 Damages — 1508
6 Costs — 1512
Chapter 4: The Press Complaints Commission and its effectiveness — 1515
1 Introduction — 1515
2 What the PCC did well — 1518
3 Independence from the industry — 1520
4 The alignment with industry — 1530
5 The PCC as regulator — 1541
6 Structural problems with the PCC — 1544
7 Investigatory failures — 1561
8 Conclusions — 1576
PARt K: RegulAtoRy Models FoR the FutuRe — 1581
Chapter 1: Criteria for a regulatory solution — 1583
1 Introduction — 1583
2 Effectiveness — 1584
3 Fairness and objectivity of standards — 1588
4 Independence and transparency of enforcement and compliance — 1590
5 Powers and remedies — 1591
6 Cost — 1593
7 Accountability — 1594
Chapter 2: The self-regulatory model proposed by the PCC and PressBoF — 1595
1 Industry acceptance of the need for reform — 1595
2 The proposal: overview — 1596
3 Governance and structures — 1597
4 Complaints — 1601
5 Standards and compliance — 1603
6 Potential for growth — 1608
7 Funding — 1609
8 The Code and the Code Committee — 1610

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9 The Industry Funding Body — 1610
10 Incentives to membership — 1611
Chapter 3: Analysis of the model proposed by the PCC and PressBoF — 1614
1 Introduction — 1614
2 Effectiveness — 1614
3 Fairness and objectivity of standards — 1623
4 Independence and transparency of enforcement and compliance — 1625
5 Powers and remedies — 1632
6 Cost — 1638
7 Response of editors and proprietors to the PCC and PressBoF proposals — 1641
8 Summary and conclusions — 1648
Chapter 4: Other proposals submitted to the Inquiry — 1651
1 Introduction — 1651
2 A new regulatory body — 1651
3 Functions and structures — 1651
4 Should coverage be voluntary or mandatory? — 1655
5 Incentives for membership — 1659
6 Statutory recognition — 1671
7 Statutory provision — 1673
8 The Code — 1680
9 Complaint handling — 1686
10 Remedies and redress — 1692
11 Sanctions — 1694
12 Dispute resolution — 1696
13 The role of the courts — 1698
14 Costs and funding — 1699
15 Protection and promotion of freedom of expression — 1703
16 Protection of journalists — 1705
Chapter 5: International comparators — 1708
1 The Press Council of Ireland and the Press Ombudsman — 1708
2 Other models of press regulation: Europe and beyond — 1717
3 Review of press regulation: Australia and New Zealand — 1727
Chapter 6: Techniques of regulation — 1734
1 Introduction — 1734
2 Regulatory options — 1734
3 Regulatory tools — 1742

Chapter 7: Conclusions and recommendations for future regulation

of the press — 1748
1 Introduction — 1748
2 Options put forward — 1750
3 A new system must include everyone — 1751
4 Voluntary independent self-regulation — 1758
5 Encouraging membership — 1769
6 Giving effect to the incentives — 1771
7 Summary of recommendations — 1781
Chapter 8: The alternatives — 1783
1 The issue — 1783
2 The questions — 1783
3 What standards should be complied with? — 1784
4 What consequences should apply for breach? — 1786
5 How should any consequences be applied? — 1788
6 To whom should any provision apply? — 1790
7 My views — 1793
Chapter 9: recommendations for a self-regulatory body — 1795
1 Introduction — 1795
2 Recommendations to a new regulatory body — 1795
PARt l: suMMARy oF ReCoMMendAtIons — 1801
APPendICes — 1819
Appendix 1: Counsel to the Inquiry and the Inquiry Team — 1821
Appendix 2: Submissions and correspondence statistics — 1823
Appendix 3: Witnesses to the Inquiry — 1827
Appendix 4: Legal materials — 1843