The Independent Press Standards Organisation has ruled News Shopper did not breach the Editors’ Code of Practice following a complaint relating to an article about Tom Fuller in August.

The outcome of the review can be read below:

"Dear Mr Parkes,

"Further to our previous correspondence, the Complaints Committee has now considered the complaint from Mr Mark Jarvis. The complainant’s concerns were reviewed within the context of the article as a whole, taking into consideration the requirements of the Editors’ Code of Practice.

"After assessment the Committee has decided that no matters have been raised which show a breach of the Code. The more detailed reasons for the decision are below.

"We are grateful to you for your co-operation in dealing with this matter.

"Yours sincerely, James Garmston"

Commission’s decision in the case of Jarvis v News Shopper (Dartford & Swanley):

"The complainant considered that the newspaper had breached Clause 5 (Intrusion into grief or shock) and Clause 16 (Payment to criminals) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The newspaper had published an interview with Tom Fuller, who had been found not guilty of murdering Natalie Jarvis, the complainant’s daughter. The complainant was concerned that the newspaper had not informed the family prior to the publication of the article; he said that this showed a lack of sympathy, discretion and sensitivity. The complainant was also concerned that Mr Fuller had been paid for the interview, in breach of Clause 16 (Payment to criminals).

"The Committee first wished to extend its condolences to the complainant and his family.

"Clause 5 (Intrusion into grief or shock) states that “in cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively”. While the Committee sympathised with any distress caused by the publication of the article to the complainant and his family, it took the view that the newspaper’s decision not to notify the family had not represented a failure to handle publication with appropriate sympathy as required under the terms of the Code. The article had reported Mr Fuller’s personal account of event, which had not included any gratuitously graphic information. There was no breach of Clause 5.

"Clause 16 (Payments to criminals) says “Payments or offers of payment for stories, pictures or information, which seek to exploit a particular crime or to glorify or glamorise crime in general, must not be directly or via agents to convicted or confessed criminals or to their associates – who may include family, friends and colleagues.” The newspaper made clear that it had neither paid, nor offered to pay, Mr Fuller for the interview. As such, the terms of Clause 16 had not been engaged.

"Although there was no breach of the Code, the Committee welcomed the newspaper’s offer to publish a reply from the complainant as a positive response to the complaint.

"There were no further issues to consider under the Code."

Full original story: Tom Fuller, found not guilty of murdering Natalie Jarvis in Swanley, speaks to News Shopper