APPENDIX 101
Memorandum submitted by Friends, Families
and Travellers Advice and Information Unit
PRESS COMPLAINTS COMMISSION
I understand that the Culture, Media and Sport
Committee have announced an inquiry into the Press Complaints
Commission and the efficacy of the service it offers. I am particularly
concerned that the Press Complaints Commission have not been shown
to represent the interests of Gypsies and Travellers who may have
tried to complain to them.
FFT is a membership based democratically controlled
organisation that was established during the passage through Parliament
of the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. It has since
grown into a nationally recognised voluntary organisation, which
serves the whole of the Traveller Community, both traditional
and new. An Advice and Information Unit based in Brighton carry
out the majority of work promoted by FFT. The work the unit covers
are all areas and issues that affect Travellers as well as carrying
out research, monitoring, mediation and policy development at
local and national levels.
The points I would raise are as follows:
— The Press Complaints Commission supervises
a code of practice, which makes reference to racial offence but
only considers complaints to be within its scope when the offensive
words are used in relation to an identified individual. Therefore
a Gypsy who finds remarks about Travellers offensive cannot complain,
as the remarks were not directed against them personally.
— Not one of the 600+ complaints made
to the Press Complaints Commission re Gypsies and Travellers since
1991 about alleged racism in the Press have been upheld. Most
of them have been rejected under Article 13 of the Code of Practice,
as the "victims" have not made the complaint themselves.
In conclusion, I would point out that although
the PCC was created for the purposes of allowing redress for individuals
adversely affected by the press coverage, and not as an organisation
that would determine and maintain press standards, it has left
a vacuum filled by the press itself.
What this has usually meant for Gypsies and
Travellers is that destructive and harmful stereotypes are frequently
perpetuated, thus fuelling racist attitudes and beliefs. I would
like to see the media include sufficient information and context
around the issues of race and class in order that prejudice might
be challenged rather than reinforced.
27 February 2003
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