Leveson Inquiry: British Press Needs Independent Regulator

LONDON: In his final report after a year-long ethics inquiry, stemming from the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, Lord Justice Brian Leveson is calling for British press to have a "mechanism for independent self-regulation."

The inquiry was ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron after it came to light that the News Corp. tabloid had hacked the phone messages of a 13-year-old murder victim, among others. Leveson spent nearly a year grilling politicians, celebrities, journalists and even Rupert Murdoch himself about the incidents of phone hacking and press intrusion.

In his report, Leveson condemned the sometimes "outrageous" behavior of the press that has "wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people." He also criticized the relationship between the press and politicians in the U.K., saying that it has been "too close."

Leveson declared that there should be a new independent self-regulating body for the British press. The new body, he suggested, should be composed of members of the public, including former journalists and academics, but no serving editors or politicians. The board would have the power to impose fines of up to £1 million if the standards codes created are broken. He added that the board would not have the power to prevent the publication of any material. "It would enshrine, for the first time, a legal duty on the government to protect the freedom of the press," he said. "The ball moves back into the politicians’ court: they must now decide who guards the guardians."

He acknowledged: "In the light of all that has been said, I must recognize the possibility that the industry could fail to rise to this challenge and be unable or unwilling to establish a system of independent self-regulation that meets the criteria. I have made it clear that I firmly believe it to be in the best interest of the public and the industry that it should indeed accept the challenge."