Resolution Statement: Complaint
12345-15 Perrett v Harrow Times
Summary of complaint
1. Maria Perrett complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that the Harrow Times breached Clause 1 (Accuracy), Clause 3 (Privacy) and Clause 9 (Reporting of crime) of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an article headlined “Neighbour ‘stabbed Alison Morrison 33 times’ in Harrow”, published on 16 June 2015.
2. The complainant expressed concern that the article had named her and associated her with the reported crimes. She also said that the reference to her was inaccurate, although she had not been present in court.
3. The newspaper said that the article was a fair and accurate report of public court proceedings, and the complainant’s name had been mentioned during those proceedings; it had been entitled to include her name in the article.
Relevant Code Provisions
4. Clause 1 (Accuracy)
(i) The press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures.
(ii) A misleading statement or distortion once recognised must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and – where appropriate – an apology published.
Clause 3 (Privacy)
(i) Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health and correspondence, including digital communications.
Clause 9 (Reporting of crime)
(i) Relatives or friends of those convicted or accused of crime should not generally be identified without their consent, unless they are genuinely relevant to the story.
Mediated outcome
5. The complaint was not resolved through direct correspondence between the parties. IPSO therefore began an investigation into the matter.
6. The newspaper offered to remove the complainant’s name from the online article.
7. The complainant said that the removal of her name would resolve the matter to her satisfaction.
8. As the complaint was successfully mediated, the Complaints Committee did not make a determination as to whether there had been any breach of the Code.
Date complaint received: 04/12/2015
Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 15/03/2016
The Independent Press Standards Organisation C.I.C. is a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales with registered number 02538908.
