Rod Liddle blog first to be rapped by press watchdog

Rod Liddle, the former BBC Radio 4 Today editor who has become one of the British media's most ubiquitous commentators, has become the first blogger to be censured by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) after he incorrectly claimed that the "overwhelming majority" of violent crime in London was carried out by young black men.
 
Blogging for the Spectator last December about "the benefits of multi-cultural Britain", Liddle wrote: "The overwhelming majority of street crime, knife crime, gun crime, robbery and crimes of sexual violence in London is carried out by young men from the African-Caribbean community. Of course, in return, we have rap music, goat curry and a far more vibrant and diverse understanding of cultures which were once alien to us. For which, many thanks."
 
One man, a Mr Oli Bird, complained to the PCC about the post and quoted statistics from the Ministry of Justice that suggested Afro-Caribbeans were not overwhelmingly responsible for London's violent crimes.
 
The Spectator had provided some evidence to back up Liddle's assertion and also published a separate blog post by another author who questioned Liddle's piece. However the press watchdog said Liddle's article had not properly demonstrated his claim, and as a result breached the editors' standards of accuracy.
 
PCC director Stephen Abell said it was "a significant ruling" as it demonstrated that newspaper and magazine blogs needed to uphold the same standards as their print editions. "There is plenty of room for robust opinions, views and commentary but statements of fact must still be substantiated if and when they are disputed. And if substantiation isn't possible, there should be proper correction by the newspaper or magazine in question."
 
Liddle's blog remains online along with the comments - the majority of which applaud his argument - although the Spectator has now linked to the PCC ruling. This complies with the formal reprimand, a PCC spokesman told The First Post. "The PCC's role is about censure rather than censor." ·