Hacked Off: No stalling on Leveson proposals

Hacked Off, which represents victims of press intrusion, said that it thought Lord Leveson's proposals were "reasonable and proportionate" and there should be no delay in putting them into practice.

Lord Leveson proposed "independent regulation of the press organised by the press" but with legal backing to make sure the regulator is working properly - for both the industry and the public.

He cited television and radio regulator Ofcom, whose chairwoman and board members are independent of the industry and politics, as a model.

That means former but not current journalists, editors, civil servants and MPs would be acceptable.

Lord Leveson said that these people should be made by a second independent panel with a "substantial majority demonstrably independent of the press" and specifically no sitting editors.

And the National Union of Journalists praised his recommendation of a whistleblower hotline and a conscience cause in reporters' contracts, so they can safely refuse unethical assignments.

But Lord Leveson was very careful to phrase it as a suggestion rather than an order - a hotline "should" be set up and conscience clauses should be "considered."

He was much firmer on complaints brought by the public, recommending the regulator provide an arbitration service recognised by the courts, similar to Britain's police watchdog, with the power to fine members and order corrections and apologies.

Membership of this regulatory would be voluntary but publishers may be penalised in court if they aren't, losing legal fees and even possibly incurring exemplary damages.

Lord Leveson said that "should provide a powerful incentive" to join but he admitted that the industry "may be unable or unwilling" to take up his recommendations.

In which case, he said, the government could give Ofcom the powers to regulate the press.