Britain’s Press Complaints Commission have been criticised by MPs for not
protecting Kate Middleton from “clear and persistent harassment” by the
paparazzi.
The condemnation of the PCC, the self-regulatory body of the press which is
seen by many as ‘toothless’, comes in a report released today by the Culture,
Media and Sports Select Committee.
Members of Parliament have been
investigating the self-regulation of the press, resulting in appearances before
the committee by some of the most significant figures in Fleet Street, including The Sun’s
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards.
The MPs were primarily concerned with the scenes which greeted Kate as she
left her Chelsea home on the morning of her 25th birthday on January
9th this year.
Media organisations gathered on the London street due growing speculation that
this would be the last birthday Kate would spend as a single woman before she
married William.
According to MPs: "In the case of Ms Middleton,
harassment was evident, yet photographs taken by the paparazzi continued to
appear in national and regional papers. We see no plausible public interest
defence."
"The PCC appears to have waited for a complaint to materialise: it
could and should have intervened sooner. The Press Complaints Commission took
too long to act to protect Kate Middleton from clear and persistent harassment."
While Kate has MPs on her side, there is one very powerful lady who wasn't quite so happy about her decision to complain about media harassment following the publication of a picture in the Daily Mirror in March.
