CLIFF RICHARD, THE BBC AND PRIVACY.

The way in which the BBC and other media have reacted to the court judgement regarding the harassment of Cliff Richard is concerning. How anyone can argue that the appalling way in which the police raid on his home was covered by the BBC escapes me.

Similarly to the shocking case of Christopher Jeffries, the Bristol landlord who was tried and convicted of murder by the media having done nothing wrong, Cliff Richard was effectively condemned without trial by the appallingly intrusive actions of the BBC. The court quite rightly determined that there was no justification for the way in which Richard's privacy was invaded nor for the way in which entirely unsubstantiated accusations were reported. Significant damages have previously been awarded against the South Yorkshire police and now damages have also been awarded against the BBC, with the likelihood that further very substantial damages will be added at a later date.

Shockingly, the BBC has still refused to apologise for its actions and has said that it will appeal the court's decision; it claims that it had run a 'public interest story', although how spreading highly damaging and unfounded accusations in a highly sensationalist fashion can be considered to be in the public interest is a mystery. Along with other equally self-interested media, the BBC has attempted to claim that invoking an invasion of privacy defence to such reporting will prevent their ability to do their job and to raise matters of public interest. In my view, this is total rubbish as there can be no public interest in such reporting other than in satisfying the prurience of certain sections of the populace; in terms of fairness, justice and honest reporting, there can be no justification for it.

Whatever damages the BBC eventually has to pay will have to come out of the money paid by licence payers. This is scandalous. The decision to act as it did was made by BBC senior managers and it is they who should bear the costs of their entirely unacceptable actions. They should also be sacked.