APC Update | Issue 13

A recent newspaper article claimed that here has been a "surge" in complaints to the Council by "campaigning lobby groups". It relied on a category of Council data which for reasons explained in detail to the reporter is not a reliable indicator of the number of complaints by groups of that kind.

In any event, the data in the cited category do not support the claim of a surge. In the last two years, the number in the category rose from 13 to 22 and then fell to 17, which is only one more than the average over the six years for which the data is available. This hardly represents a surge. Moreover, re-examination of the Council's records shows that less than one-third of the 39 complaints in the last two years appear to be linked with any lobby group (relating to child protection, men's health, abortion and disability). A further four complaints, relating to refugees, do not mention a link with any lobby group but the complaints used very similar wording. As the Council's Chair foreshadowed last year at the Finkelstein Inquiry, the Council's methods of statistical recording have been thoroughly revamped with effect from 1 July 2012 in order to achieve acceptable levels of clarity and reliability.

The newspaper also expressed concern that the Council might be "manipulated" by lobby groups into investigating many complaints which are of no merit. Of the 39 complaints mentioned above, it appears that there were twelve occasions on which a newspaper was asked to respond (often leading to a correction or other remedial action) and one complaint, relating to disability issues, which proceeded to an adjudication by the Council. Across the full range of complaints, the proportion which were "dismissed at an initial stage" was higher in 2011-12 than in the previous year. Many others were not formally dismissed but for a variety of reasons did not  proceed to the stage of contact by the Council with the newspaper in question. In future, data will be recorded of the proportion which do not reach that stage.

Complaints by so-called lobby groups will continue to be treated on their merits in the same way as applies to complaints from the
wide array of organisations, businesses, councils, individuals and others who approach the Council. They will not be favoured or discriminated against, irrespective of any pressures from them, newspapers or other sources.

In addition to the new methods of statistical reporting introduced from 1 July this year, there has been a simultaneous change in the processes required of both complainants and newspapers if a complaint proceeds to the stage of contact by the Council with the newspaper. This major simplification has been welcomed by newspaper representatives who have close familiarity with the Council's work.