A newspaper has violated the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act - what do I do next?

Question

A crime was committed ten years ago which was reported on in the newspapers at the time. Since then, the offender has not re-offended, turned his life around and realised the error of his ways. He has new friends, a new social circle, holds down a steady job and goes to a good church. The local newspaper suddenly decide to needlessly resurrect his past in a piece about his new job. Now all his new friends, new social circle and workmates know his history and he's back to square one - depression and haunted by the past. Will taking on the newspaper cost massive amounts that the average person cannot afford (such as in the case of libel, for instance) or is there an easier way to take the newspaper on for what they have done, other than the Press Complaints Commission, which is a waste of space? Any help most appreciated!

Answer 1

Well, it depends...I say, if the person's crime was against children, and they are now working with children, then what the paper did was right. It's more important to protect the children. If not, (robbed a liquor store) sue away!

Answer 2

Well, unless the newspaper was going to offer this person a job and turned him down on the grounds of a spent conviction or sacked him on the grounds of a spent conviction, you do not have a case under the 1974 Act.

What you are talking about here is defamation of character in the form of a libelous statement which is a tort.

Generally, if the paper has printed something that is true it is not libelous.

There are exceptions to this, if what was printed was done so to be malicious to your friend is an example.

Tort is a civil matter and public funding may not be available. It could also drag itself out. This would depend on the remedy sought through the court.

The only upside is that in this type of tort you do not have to show personal injury damage or loss.

It sounds to me as though someone contacted the paper with the story and they decided to print it, as opposed to the paper doing research on your friend. Try to find out if this was the case.

Who ever told you that the 1974 Act applied here was incorrect.

Good luck

Answer 3

Generally newspapers and journalists consider themselves above the law. Although the individual may attempt to take on the newspapers they will certainly publicise the case so much that the person involve will get no peace.
On the plus side however the fact that it is a local newspaper is a distinct bonus. The local press does not have the sheer wealth and influence to force the case in their favour - if the person does manage to get the case to court there is a good chance they could successfully claim for damages.

It will certainly be worth while contacting the Press Complaints Commission ( http://www.pcc.org.uk/ ) in case they are helpful - it really can't hurt to contact them.

It may also be worthwhile contacting the citizens' advice bureau http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ on this matter.

Unfortunatly most organisations set up to supposedly help individuals against corporations are as useful as chocolate teapots because they are designed as monuments to bureaucracy and paper work. They usually carry leaflets allowing you to help yourself.

As with most cases where a person has to do something perhaps your best assett would be the local library where you can look at copies of legal documents and books on laws and statutes to help you to get the correct information to proceed.

I hope this goes well.

Answer 4

I am so sorry to hear of yr friend's misfortune. He must be totally devasted. I think it depends on what the piece was that the newspapers wrote about i.e. supposing he commited a sexual offence to children 10 years ago and he had recently got a job working with children, then i think the newspaper had a duty to write about it. I am sure this is not the case with yr friend, but i just wondered what they were writing about to ressurect the past. All i know is that after 10 years (spent) it is not allowed to be bought up in any subsequent court cases. Mind u, having said that i knew someone who had a spent convinction and was standing bail for someone and a policeman stood up and told the magistrate that he opposed my friend standing bail cos of his 'spent' convinction some 30 years previously, the magistrate, thank God dismissed the policeman's request and my friend was allowed to stand bail. I suppose if yr friend has got a good case against the newspaper then yes he could sue, but as u rightly say it would cost a bomb. Why not see a solicitor at this stage to see if yr friend has a case at all. Good luck

Answer 5

Unless you can prove intent to libel or slander you-- your past conviction is a matter of court record for anyone to pull up or go to courthouse and obtain,

It tacky that this takes place.
You can speak with an attorney. Perhaps someone still hold a grudge and they ""know" someone connected with the paper and got an article printed.

But it happens to politicians and such all the time.
Our past is a part of our life Born date - death date but that dash bwt is what hold all the juciy parts.

Have an attorney find out why the article was printed.
May have a case.

But hey 10 years of decent living should speak for itself--if a person has friends they stick-- if not they weren't friends anyway.

Answer 6

what an absolutely attrocious thing to do, heres my hand and heres my heart, See how easy it is for super rich news papers, to anhialate a mans life who has no money, in saying that, you may get an opposing newspaper to humiliate that paper. i dont know what official steps you should take to get recompence for this i only wish i did, and i do know how you feel, my life was ruined,but i didn't get done for any thing , it was all done by backstabbers who threatened my childrens lives, because of my beliefs. find out who the actual journalist was, He might be a drunked slob or worse these people hide behind newspapers, and nobody knows who they are. but Gods rules is thus; If a sinner repents God forgives and forgets, the sinner has to also forgive himself and forget. from this point forward you are blameless.The news man is a spitefull individual who needs to repent and be forgiven just like you. A word of warning you may be spied on they may even go to your church and bug your conversation with you church leaders, and even you home be carefull good luck and God bless.

Answer 7

The rules on the subject of intercourse criminal registration and the Patriot Act are 2 peas in a similar pod. they are kit used to strip electorate of their civil rights. they are only the initiating. extra law is pending which will require extra human beings to sign in i.e. pot human beings who smoke and DUIs will quickly be listed on some internet site someplace. a while will come. Registration for intercourse offenders does not something to guard babies. purely an exceedingly small proportion of intercourse offenders ever dedicate yet another intercourse crime (in accordance to the Bureau of Justice information). intercourse Offenders have a decrease recidivism fee than only approximately all different styles of criminals. those rules are only a skill to marginilize and shun an entire inhabitants. Over a a million/2 a million human beings around the rustic and becoming. The Patriot Act only expands in this desire to create a classification society. quickly we are able to ascertain much extra regulations and abuses against our civil rights. you will possibly not recommendations the gov. telling you what to do, the place to stay and listening to your conversations and interpreting your e-mails and such now on account which you have not something to conceal and lead a organic existence. yet who comes to a decision what's against the regulation and who's a terrorist. by making use of the time you do care, this is going to be too overdue for you. you would be in the back of bars or avoided and villified. the only requirement for the triumph of evil is for stable adult males to do not something. you have been warned.

Answer 8

The problem his the past has an auful way of kicking you in the *** when you dont need it to.
hes done the things written and he should have come clean with his friends and sosial circle before this happened .
hes done the time and learnt from his mistakes but two wrings dont make a right and he has his self to blame no for his actions .
he would be best to explain that yes he has done the things reported and relises his mistakes in the past but thats the past and he wanted to move forwards not backwards .

Answer 9

All the law can offer is cash compensation. A solicitor's letter should do the trick. A local newspaper is unlikely to throw money at a defence unless they are owned by one of the big groups.

Answer 10

First of all go to the 'Citizens' Advice Bureau' nearest where your friend lives and ask their advice - it's free. Then look at the law about Rehabilitaion of Offenders Act - that should be on Wikepedia or elsewhere on the Internet. Get informed then you will know where to turn for help. Does sound most unfair to me.