Editorial Standards

Our Mission

VPNews is an independent United Kingdom news publisher specialising in crime, court, and criminal justice reporting. We exist to serve the public interest by providing timely, accurate, and accessible coverage of the justice system and matters of public safety across the UK.

Open justice is a cornerstone of British democracy. Our reporting seeks to uphold this principle by making court proceedings and criminal justice outcomes transparent and understandable to the communities they affect. These editorial standards govern all content published on www.vpnews.co.uk and set out the principles to which every member of our editorial team is held.

Accuracy

Accuracy is the foundation of everything we publish. We are committed to reporting facts that have been properly verified before publication.

All court reporting is based on direct observation of proceedings, official court records, or verified statements from legal professionals and law enforcement agencies. We do not publish charges, convictions, or sentences without confirming them through official channels. Where information is sourced from police press releases, Crown Prosecution Service statements, or court listings, this is clearly attributed.

Claims and allegations are clearly distinguished from established facts. We take care to accurately report the nature and stage of legal proceedings, ensuring readers understand whether a person has been arrested, charged, or convicted.

Fairness and Impartiality

VPNews is committed to fair, balanced, and impartial reporting. We do not take sides in legal proceedings and we report the facts as presented in court.

The presumption of innocence is central to our court reporting. Where a defendant has been charged but not yet convicted, our reporting makes this distinction clear. We use language such as "is alleged to have" or "is accused of" until a conviction is recorded.

We offer a right of reply to any individual or organisation that is the subject of criticism or allegations in our reporting. Where a right of reply is sought, we make reasonable efforts to contact the relevant party before publication and include their response where provided.

Privacy

We balance the public interest in open justice with the right to privacy, particularly for victims and vulnerable individuals.

We do not identify victims of sexual offences, in accordance with the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992. We do not identify children involved in criminal proceedings, whether as defendants, witnesses, or victims, unless a court has expressly lifted reporting restrictions. We comply fully with Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.

Where individuals are vulnerable due to age, mental health, or other circumstances, we exercise particular care in deciding whether and how to report their involvement in criminal proceedings. We do not publish addresses beyond the level of a town or city unless there is a clear public interest in doing so.

Sources and Verification

Our reporting draws on a range of authoritative sources, including direct court observation, official court records and transcripts, police force press offices and public statements, Crown Prosecution Service publications, Freedom of Information requests, and publicly available documents from HM Courts & Tribunals Service, the Ministry of Justice, and other government bodies.

Where we rely on a single source, this is made clear to the reader. Anonymous sources are used only where there is a compelling public interest, the information cannot reasonably be obtained on the record, and the source has demonstrated reliability. We never fabricate quotes, sources, or information.

Corrections Policy

We take errors seriously. When a factual error is identified in our reporting, we correct it promptly and transparently.

Minor corrections, such as typographical errors or minor factual clarifications, are made directly in the text. Significant corrections are noted at the foot of the article with a clear correction notice stating what was changed and when. Where an article is substantially inaccurate or misleading, we will remove it and publish an explanation.

If you believe we have published an error, please contact us at citydesk@vpnews.co.uk with the article URL and details of the inaccuracy. We aim to review and respond to all correction requests within 48 hours.

Complaints Procedure

VPNews takes all editorial complaints seriously and has a clear process for handling them.

To make a complaint, email citydesk@vpnews.co.uk with the subject line "Editorial Complaint" and include the URL of the article in question, a clear description of your concern, and any supporting evidence. We will acknowledge your complaint within two working days and aim to provide a full response within ten working days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may escalate your complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the independent regulator for the newspaper and magazine industry in the UK. Details of how to complain to IPSO can be found at www.ipso.co.uk.

Editorial Independence

VPNews is editorially independent. Our reporting is not influenced by commercial interests, advertisers, political parties, or any external organisation.

Advertising and sponsored content are clearly distinguished from editorial content and are never permitted to influence news coverage. Editorial decisions are made solely by our editorial team on the basis of newsworthiness and public interest. No advertiser, sponsor, or commercial partner has any input into, or prior knowledge of, our editorial content.

Court Reporting Standards

Court reporting is central to our work and we apply the highest standards to this area of journalism.

We comply with the Contempt of Court Act 1981, which restricts the reporting of matters that could create a substantial risk of serious prejudice to active legal proceedings. We observe all reporting restrictions imposed by courts, including those under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, and any bespoke orders made under Section 4(2) or Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981.

We are mindful of sub judice rules and take care not to publish material that could prejudice a fair trial. Between the point of arrest and the conclusion of proceedings, we confine our reporting to the facts as presented in open court or confirmed by official sources.

Our court reporters are trained in media law and understand their responsibilities under the Contempt of Court Act, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and the relevant provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998, particularly Articles 6, 8, and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Language Standards

VPNews is committed to factual, measured, and responsible language in all our reporting. We do not use sensationalist headlines or emotive language designed to inflame rather than inform.

We avoid prejudicial terms that could imply guilt before conviction. We do not describe a person as a "criminal" unless they have been convicted of a criminal offence. We use precise legal terminology and, where technical terms are necessary, we explain them in plain language for our readers.

We are mindful of the impact our reporting can have on individuals and communities. We do not include gratuitous detail about violence, suffering, or distress unless it is necessary to convey the substance of the story. We avoid language that could discriminate on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

Contact

If you have any questions about our editorial standards, wish to request a correction, or need to make a complaint, please contact us at citydesk@vpnews.co.uk.

This page was last reviewed on 26 March 2026.