There are two main themes to focus upon when considering this. The first theme suggested being what is the current system of press regulation used in the UK today. The second theme suggested by the question is disputed cases of intrusion.

Let us first have a closer look at the current system of press regulation used in the UK today.

Currently in Britain there is no statutory legislation preventing newspapers from printing stories and pictures, which may well be considered to be an invasion of ones privacy. However, despite they're being no actual privacy law there is a code of practice, which all newspapers and magazines have agreed to adhere to. The Press Complaints Commission set this up.

The Press Complaints Commission, (PCC) is an independent organisation set up in 1991 upon the recommendations of Sir David Calcutt's commission into press regulation. The job of the PCC is to make sure that the newspapers and magazines follow the code of practice on topics suc

However, as McNair states the PCC was, "Championed by its advocates as the "last chance saloon for the British tabloids", others regarded the Calcutt committee and the subsequent establishment of the PCC as a cosmetic exercise by the Conservative Government, intended to head off public concern while not antagonising papers which were key political allies."(McNair '94 p170)

A very valid argument against the code is what's the penalty for breaking it? Apart from going to adjudication and having to print retractions and/or apologies what is the deterrent to repeatedly breaking the code?

The code of practice is made up of 16 clauses, each dealing with an area, which the press have agreed not to breach. These clauses include accuracy, privacy and harassment. However, being one of the clauses of the code of practice doesn't necessarily mean they cannot be breached. 8 of the clauses are subject to the exception known as the public interest. The public interest includes detecting crime and protecting health and safety. Any publication that invokes the public interest clause is required to give a full explanation, as to why they used the public interest clause and how the public interest was served, to the chairman of the PCC.

The PCC was the idea of Sir David Calcutts committee commissioned by the Government to "consider what measures (whether legislative or otherwise) are needed to give further protection to individual privacy from the activities of the press and improve recourse against the press for the individual citizen, taking into account of existing remedies, including the law on defamation and breach of confidence; and to make recommendations."(PCC, History of the commission. p1/2, 99)

Surely it's better that we have a free press, rather than one, which can only give us half a story due to government legislation. In a democracy everyone has the right to free speech, which is what the code of practice allows.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Conservative Government, Tony Blair, Carol Smillie, Press Council, PCC Intro, Noel Gallaghers, REGULATION UK, David Calcutts, Anais Gallaghers, Ministry Sound, code practice, press regulation, system press, regulation uk, press regulation uk, press complaints, press complaints commission, complaints commission, current system, press council, system press regulation, current system press, prime minister tony, theme suggested, publishers association,
Approximate Word count = 1781
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)