Regulatoray Bodies

(PCC) Press complaints Commission

About the PCC

In November 2012, Lord Hunt, Chair of the PCC, responded to the publication of Lord Justice Leveson's Report. He reiterated a commitment to moving forward as swiftly as possible to a new regulatory body. The UK newspaper and magazine industry has agreed to construct a new regulatory system which is compliant with Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations and is currently in discussions about the precise form that will take. Lord Hunt is working with the industry to set up the new organisation in accordance with those agreed objectives, and is keeping Government and Parliament informed of progress.

In the meantime the Press Complaints Commission will continue to deal with complaints from members of the public, which can be made in the normal way throughout the transition period. The terms of the Editors' Code of Practice remain the same, and members of PCC staff are available at any time to offer advice, including on an emergency out-of-hours basis for concerns relating to harassment or attention from journalists and photographers.

History

The press in the UK has been subject to self-regulation for over sixty years. The self-regulatory era began with the creation of a voluntary Press Council in 1953, which aimed to maintain high ethical standards of journalism and to promote press freedom.