THE Press Complaints Commission has called a meeting tomorrow amid
rising pressure from MPs for legislation to curb newspaper invasions of
privacy.
It did so as questions began to be asked about how the People obtained
information linking Mr David Mellor to an out-of-work actress. There was
speculation that they could have been the victims of entrapment and
illegal telephone-taping.
According to the People's stablemate, the Daily Mirror, conversations
between Mr Mellor and the actress Antonia de Sancha were taped without
their knowledge. They were said to have taken place in a borrowed flat
in Fulham.
Under the Telecommunications Act of 1984, taped conversations made
without the knowledge of those taking part in them could be illegal if
they were subsequently used for financial gain.
Mr Mellor was introduced to Miss de Sancha by Private Eye journalist
Paul Halloran at a lunch about three years ago. Mr Halloran said last
night he felt sorry for both of them.
Miss de Sancha was ''bright, articulate, and intelligent,'' he said,
adding: ''I have never known her to be malicious.''
The flat was said to be owned by 28-year-old Nick Philp, a computer
expert. He was unavailable.
One friend said of Miss de Sancha that she was ''bewitching'' and a
''brilliant actress''. She had had a part in a production of Agamemnon
which toured America and Canada last September.
At the Ifield Tavern in Chelsea, where she was a customer for about
six weeks while living in the district, she used to drink Guinness and
play pool. Landlord John Harrington said: ''She came in with her
landlord, Nick Philp, whom we know as Posh Nick.''
Another figure to appear on the scene was freelance photographer Les
Chudzicki. In one report he was quoted as saying that he had broken the
story. He apparently claimed to have access to the flat and to be ready
to provide pictures for a sum of #10,000. Pictures appeared in
yesterday's Daily Mirror.
Tomorrow's meeting of the Press Complaints Commission has been
initiated by the commission itself, a spokesman said. There had been no
complaints. There would not be an investigation or an inquiry but the
commission would examine newspaper reports.
The PCC is a non-statutory body set up two years ago to replace the
Press Council on the understanding that if self-regulation failed there
would be statutory constraints on the press. Last month its chairman,
Lord McGregor of Durris, criticised ''prurient'' reports about the royal
marriage.
Last week, Tory MP Peter Bottomley complained to the PCC about a
report in the Independent stating that his wife, Health Secretary
Virginia Bottomley, had given birth to their first child before their
marriage.
He later withdrew his complaint after a meeting with the newspaper's
editor who expressed regret that the Bottomleys' son had been named.
As part of his review, Mr Mellor has appointed Sir David Calcutt QC to
report on whether legislation is needed. Sir David had chaired the
committee which in 1990 outlined new laws on privacy which could be
introduced if self-regulation failed.
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