Supplementary written evidence submitted
by Tim Toulmin, Press Complaints Commission
Thank you for your letter of 12 October.
As requested, I am sending copies of my letters of
7 February and 20 April 2007 to Colin Myler.
As you are interested in the PCC's action in
the Bridgend case, I am also sending you a copy of a letter that
Christopher Meyer sent to Madeleine Moon MP on 20 February 2008.
This makes clear that we were prepared to go down there much earlier
than May, when the events there eventually took place. As there
were a number of different organisations and people to co-ordinate
it did take some time for Ms Moon's office and the PCC to make
the necessary arrangements—but I thought you ought to be
aware that the initiative itself was suggested by us relatively
early in the sequence of suicides.
Please do let me know if you need any more information.
With kind regards.
October 2009
Annex A
Letter from Tim Toulmin, Director, Press
Complaints Commission to Colin Myler, Editor, News of the World
I am writing following the convictions of Clive
Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. As you may know, the board of the
Press Complaints Commission has met and discussed the matter on
two separate occasions. It has asked me to put a number of questions
to you before launching a wider exercise aimed at ensuring that
such phone message tapping does not happen again.
There are obviously several matters that are specific
to the News of the World. The focus of our enquiries is on lessons
to be learned. But clearly this requires some understanding of
the situation which gave rise to the Goodman/Mulcaire case. It
goes without saying that the Commission realises that you have
no personal responsibility for what occurred.
We have been especially concerned whether the
employment of Mr Mulcaire represented an attempt to circumvent
the Code's provisions by sub-contracting investigative work to
a third party. We recognise that there is nothing inherently wrong
with using third parties. But the Code says that "editors
should take care to ensure it is observed rigorously by all editorial
staff and external contributors, including non-journalists".
There are therefore no loopholes.
More specifically:
1. Were Mulcaire and any other external contributors
aware that when using their material the newspaper had to work
within the terms of the Code and the law?
2. To avoid a repetition of this episode, what
new guidance has been or will be introduced for external contributors?
Is it/will it be written into their contracts or otherwise made
clear that material must be obtained in a manner consistent with
the requirements of the Code of Practice and of the law, and that
public interest exceptions may apply? What other steps are being
or will be taken to ensure that material supplied by third parties
complies with the Code?
3. What steps have been/will be taken to ensure
that all staff journalists on the News of the World understand
that the use of third parties to circumvent the Code is unacceptable,
and may be illegal?
As to Goodman, it seems from the evidence submitted
to the court that he repeatedly breached the Code and the law.
It will not surprise you to hear that the Commission requires
reassurance that the newspaper makes its staff journalists fully
aware of the requirements of the Code and the law in terms of
subterfuge, including when it is justified. This, of course, embraces
also the Data Protection Act, where there has been separate comment
recently about the extent to which it is respected by journalists.
More specifically:
1. Has the paper's guidance to staff journalists
changed in light of Goodman's conviction? If so, what does it
say?
2. Are you satisfied that staff fully understand
all clauses of the Code of Practice and the consequences of breaching
the Code? There are occasions where exceptions to the rules may
be made in the public interest—are these made clear?
3. Do you need the Commission's assistance to
help with internal training or anything else? As you may know,
we run regular workshops on the Code and how it is enforced.
4. The Commission intends to widen its investigation
after hearing from you, with a view to establishing whether controls
across the industry are adequate. With this in mind, is there
anything else that would be helpful to us from the newspaper's
experience in this case?
I look forward to hearing from you. I may have
some further questions at a later stage.
With kind regards.
February 2007
Annex B
Letter from Tim Toulmin, Director, Press
Complaints Commission to Colin Myler, Editor, News of the World
Further to my letter of 18 April, I have two
further questions.
I see from your letter to staff of 19 February that
further controls on cash payments were being developed. May the
Commission know what conclusions were reached in this regard?
Secondly, as you know, the Commission is looking
at what lessons might be learned, and in particular it may wish
to draw attention to examples of best practice. With that in mind,
would you object if our report quoted from the revised contracts
that have been drawn up for contributors and members of staff?
I look forward to hearing from you.
With kind regards.
20 April 2007
Annex C
Letter from Sir Christopher Meyer, Chairman
of the Press Complaints Commission to Madeleine Moon MP
I thought you might like to see a copy of a
statement I have made today,[113]
which I have sent to the local and regional press around Bridgend
as well as to national newspapers. I am particularly eager to
ensure that anyone affected by one of these tragedies is aware
of what we can do to help minimise the impact of journalists'
inquiries at such a difficult time.
I am also very concerned about the suggestion that
the media are somehow glamorising suicide. I understand that you
are compiling a dossier to forward to us, and I look forward to
receiving it. In addition, members of my staff would be very willing
to come to Bridgend to see you, members of the public and anyone
who has a professional interest in these matters to answer any
questions.
Finally, I should just remind you that our responsibility
is for newspapers and magazines in print or online, but not for
television and radio, which fall to Ofcom and, where relevant,
the BBC.
With kind regards
20 February 2008
113 http://www.pcc.org.uk/news/index.html?article=NDk1Ng== Back
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