By Julia Schöpflin and Julian Darrall
Self regulation by the press is again under scrutiny, in particular the ability to regulate chequebook journalism the practice of paying for stories, information and photographs when the recipients of those payments are criminals and witnesses in criminal trials. We look at how things stand at present.
The Daily Mirror's payment of a six figure sum to Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer who was recently released from prison after serving two thirds of his five year manslaughter sentence for shooting a teenage burglar, has re opened the debate on whether self regulation by the press is working. The Press Complaints Commission ("PCC")has decided of its own volition to examine whether the paper breached the PCC's Code of Practice. Since this was announced, the PCC has apparently received dozens of calls from members of the public in support of the Mirror .
