Media lawyers this week hit back at allegations by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) that the use of solicitors delays cases before the watchdog and has no impact on the outcome of complaints.

The PCC's annual report noted that 'rulings on complaints that were made through solicitors took on average 50% longer to be made'.


The report said: 'The commission sets great store by being "fast, free and fair". When lawyers become involved in the process it ceases to be particularly fast - and it is certainly not free. It should be noted that having legal representation will not improve a complainant's chances of success.'


But Amber Melville-Brown, a consultant with London-based media firm David Price Solicitors & Advocates and the Gazette's media law columnist, said: 'Any excessive delays would tend to suggest complaints being made by solicitors who are not specialists in media matters... but legal advice can assist individuals in assessing if they have a claim in defamation, breach of confidence or invasion of privacy, for example, for which they should be compensated and/or if they would be better advised making an immediate complaint to the PCC.'


Mark Thomson, a partner with London firm Carter-Ruck, said: 'The [PCC] code needs to be tougher and the sanctions need to be tougher. Until that happens, the protection provided by the PCC against the excesses of the press is too limited and many victims will want to pursue legal claims in libel or privacy rather than complaints to the PCC.'