Press Recognition Panel statement on settlement of High Court case between the Duke of Sussex and News Group Newspaper

The Press Recognition Panel (PRP), the independent body set up to oversee the system of press self-regulation created in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry, has issued the following statement in response to the announcement today of a settlement in the case between the Duke of Sussex and News Group Newspapers (NGN).

Kathryn Cearns OBE, Chair of the Press Recognition Panel, said:

“The Press Recognition Panel is very concerned that senior executives at News Group Newspapers appear to have misled not only the Leveson Inquiry, but also the many victims of press intrusion over a period of nearly 20 years through their previous denials of unlawful activities taking place at The Sun newspaper, and that today’s settlement will allow them to evade accountability for their actions.

“Our August 2024 report into press intrusion highlighted the damage that has been done by a largely unaccountable press in the pursuit of headlines at the expense of ordinary people who, unlike Prince Harry, are unable to afford expensive legal teams to seek redress.

“Even where people are able to bring a case, the current legal system more often than not obliges victims of press intrusion to agree to a settlement or risk being hit with huge legal costs. Today’s settlement has once again allowed powerful media companies to avoid the scrutiny and accountability that shining a light on the practices and decision-making by executives would have revealed.

“Some news publishers have been responsible and joined the approved regulator, Impress, which has been successful in keeping proper public interest standards in place. However, those who have been involved in unlawful activities have joined the largely ineffective Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). IPSO’s industry-controlled standards code continues to deny justice to ordinary people. The Government will fail in its duty to protect the public if it does not require news publishers to sign up to a press self-regulator that is both independent and impartial according to the criteria recommended by the Leveson Inquiry and overseen by the PRP.”