Mosley calls for ‘free justice’ in Press cases

FORMER Formula 1 boss Max Mosley yesterday outlined his own proposals for a new Press complaints body that could issue injunctions and impose substantial fines.

Speaking at the Leveson inquiry, Mr Mosley said the cost of taking legal action for breaches of privacy or defamation was a ‘major problem’ and called for ‘free’ access to justice.

The 72-year-old was the subject of a News of the World article alleging he took part in a ‘sick Nazi orgy’ in March 2008. He was awarded a record £60,000 in privacy damages at the High Court after taking legal action against the now-defunct tabloid.

Mr Mosley, son of British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, had previously accused the Government of being ‘completely in the thrall of’ newspaper bosses when

‘Civilised behaviour’

he gave evidence to the inquiry into press standards in November.

He returned yesterday to suggest his ‘radical solution’ as the inquiry considered options for future Press regulation.

The current Press Complaints Commission (PCC) is being phased out in the wake of the hacking scandal, with Lord Justice Leveson tasked with proposing a replacement.

Mr Mosley said sections of the British Press have ‘repeatedly gone well beyond the bounds of civilised behaviour’. He suggested the creation of two bodies to run alongside each other: a Press Commission, which would be a rule-making body with a similar structure to the current PCC, and a Press Tribunal, created by statute, which would mediate and enforce standards.

The tribunal would be available to both the public and the media free of charge, and be financed by the introduction of a levy on publications which have a circulation in excess of 30,000, and the fines imposed from breaches.

The tribunal would have the power to impose High Court-style injunctions on newspapers to prevent publication of an article.