statutory law

This is the written type of law which is set down by legislature or by a legislator

Leveson inquiry

The PCC's main purpose is to keep tabs on the press and make sure they are kept at bay from going overboard. However, it seems even the PCC are struggling to do their jobs, as the press seem uncontrollable with the press being allowed to do whatever they want, no matter how sly their approach is. The press seemed dumfounded as to admitting what they've done wrong, they are very fickle to believe that we don't know what's going on.

Sir Paul Stephenson

The former Metropolitan Police commissioner has been cleared of misconduct in his handling of the phone hacking inquiry by the police watchdog.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said Sir Paul Stephenson had not committed any criminal acts.

Sir Paul Stephenson said the outcome was "as I would have expected it to be" and he regretted resources "have had to be expe nded on this matter".

Sir Paul resigned in July following criticism for hiring Mr Wallis - who has been questioned by police investigating hacking - as an adviser.

Sir Paul was referred to the IPCC because of his responsibility for the alleged failings of Mr Yates, but the report said the fact one of his officers might have carried out a poor investigation did not constitute a misconduct offence.

The report also considered Sir Paul's acceptance of hospitality fro m a family friend at Champneys Medical while he was on sick leave.

An independent inquiry will examine claims former assistant commissioner John Yates secured a job for a News of the World executive's daughter.

Two senior officers resigned from their posts in the wake of the scandal.

The IPCC report also cleared Mr Yates, former Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman and former Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke of misconduct over phone hacking.

Introduction to the PCC

1. The PCC stands for Press complaints comission
2. It was charged solely with the administraion of the code, because of the Editorial case of practice the PCC has no powers to impose the penalties. It administers the system of self regulation for the press, deals with complaints framed within terms of the ECP (editorial case of practice) about the editorial content of newspapers, magazines and the conduct of their journalists.
3. All members of the press have a duty to maintain the highest professional standards. The Code, which includes the public interest exceptions below, sets the benchmark for those ethical standards, protecting both the rights of the individual and the public's right to know.

List of codes of practice:
-Accuracy
-Opportunity to reply
-Privacy
-Harassment
-Intrusion into grief or shock
-Children
-Children in sex cases
-Hospitals
-Reporting of Crime
-Clandestine devices and subterfuge
-Victims of sexual assault
-Discrimination
-Financial journalism
-Confidential sources
-Witness payments in criminal trials
-Payment to criminals

History of the press regulation

Throughout a period of time there were several types of publications that were used to send across news and potential rumours to the public. Examples of these included pamphlets and posters. The first renowned news piece was compiled in strasbourg which was known as Johann Carolus' Relation aller Furnemmen und gededckwurdigen Historien at around 1605.

The court of law went on to ban all english news books due to complaints from Austrian and Spainish diplomats, but they carried on printing news stories in Amsterdam to smuggle over to Britain for the time being until it became legalised again.

The civil war had news pamphlets reporting on the war often portraying a biased point of view towards each of the sides.

The press regulation commenced just after the second world war, it was established following pressure from the National Union of Journalists which was aimed to promote the interests of consumers and research into the print industries long term impact socially and economically.

The general council was formed in response to critics demanding for improvement. It was then critisised further in 1973 as privacy was the issue this time and they urged a written code of practice which was then rejected by the press council.

The PCC (press complaints commission) are not responsible for any breaches guilty of prosecution. The code consists of 16 clauses which the press can be prosecuted for by the public including respect for privacy and harassment. Statutory controls on press freedom are widely regarded as an unreasonable restriction on freedom of speech, and as such of democratic rights.

One of the most common complaints is about the PCC is about their lack of authority when imposing penalties. Overall the PCC recieved 4,340 complaints in 2007 which was an increase in last year.