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Leveson Inquiry: Press Complaints Commission 'not a regulator' | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The Press Complaints Commission is a "complaints body" not a "regulator", its former director has told the Leveson Inquiry. | The Press Complaints Commission is a "complaints body" not a "regulator", its former director has told the Leveson Inquiry. |
Tim Toulmin, who was in the post from 2004 to 2009, said the PCC was set up by the industry as an ombudsman. | Tim Toulmin, who was in the post from 2004 to 2009, said the PCC was set up by the industry as an ombudsman. |
He said the PCC did not investigate what had happened at the News of the World over phone hacking but instead ran a "forward looking exercise". | He said the PCC did not investigate what had happened at the News of the World over phone hacking but instead ran a "forward looking exercise". |
Mr Toulmin was in the post when Royal editor Clive Goodman was jailed. | Mr Toulmin was in the post when Royal editor Clive Goodman was jailed. |
He was asked if the PCC had discussed whether to ask Andy Coulson questions after he resigned as editor of the News of the World over phone hacking. | He was asked if the PCC had discussed whether to ask Andy Coulson questions after he resigned as editor of the News of the World over phone hacking. |
But he said the PCC had decided its powers would have "held little traction with him". | But he said the PCC had decided its powers would have "held little traction with him". |
"I later accepted this was a mistake," he said. | "I later accepted this was a mistake," he said. |
But he added that this had not been his decision. | But he added that this had not been his decision. |
Lord Justice Leveson said it would have been "extremely powerful" if Mr Coulson had refused to speak to the PCC. | |
Mr Toulmin told the inquiry the PCC could "react quickly to complainants or to events". | Mr Toulmin told the inquiry the PCC could "react quickly to complainants or to events". |
Editors admonished | Editors admonished |
The PCC members did not regard themselves as defending the press, but helping the public remedy problems they had with free press, he said. | The PCC members did not regard themselves as defending the press, but helping the public remedy problems they had with free press, he said. |
The PCC had sent "letters of admonishment" maybe six times to editors if they had been slow to respond to the organisation or had not published a ruling with sufficient prominence. | The PCC had sent "letters of admonishment" maybe six times to editors if they had been slow to respond to the organisation or had not published a ruling with sufficient prominence. |
Mr Toulmin said he thought the PCC did "test the boundaries of its powers" with regards examining phone hacking. | Mr Toulmin said he thought the PCC did "test the boundaries of its powers" with regards examining phone hacking. |
He said editors on the PPC helped give the PCC power because of peer pressure. | He said editors on the PPC helped give the PCC power because of peer pressure. |
Lord Justice Leveson asked if it was an error everyone had made in calling the PCC a self-regulating body when it was not a regulator at all, to which Mr Toulmin replied "yes". | |
The inquiry is also due to hear evidence on Monday from current Press Complaints Commission director Stephen Abell. | The inquiry is also due to hear evidence on Monday from current Press Complaints Commission director Stephen Abell. |
On Tuesday the witnesses will include Sir Christopher Meyer, a former PCC chairman and former BBC and ITV chairman Michael Grade, who is one of the public members of the PCC. | On Tuesday the witnesses will include Sir Christopher Meyer, a former PCC chairman and former BBC and ITV chairman Michael Grade, who is one of the public members of the PCC. |
The Leveson Inquiry was set up by Prime Minister David Cameron in July 2011 amid new revelations of phone hacking at the now-defunct News of the World. | The Leveson Inquiry was set up by Prime Minister David Cameron in July 2011 amid new revelations of phone hacking at the now-defunct News of the World. |
The first phase is examining the practices and ethics of the press. A second phase of the inquiry, after a police investigation into phone hacking at the News of the World is complete, will focus on unlawful conduct by the press and the police's initial hacking investigation. | The first phase is examining the practices and ethics of the press. A second phase of the inquiry, after a police investigation into phone hacking at the News of the World is complete, will focus on unlawful conduct by the press and the police's initial hacking investigation. |