PCC to investigate possible press payments to parents of 13-year-old Dad Alfie Patten

The Press Complaints Commission has launched an inquiry into alleged payments by The Sun and the People to the parents of Alfie Patten, the 13-year-old father who has become the centre of a tabloid news frenzy.
Announcing the inquiry, the PCC highlighted Clause 6 (iv) of the Editors' Code of Practice, which says:"Minors must not be paid for material involving children's welfare, nor parents or guardians for material about their children or wards, unless it is clearly in the child's interests".
It notes that newspapers are allowed to breach this rule if there is a demonstrable public interest.
The PCC said it will make a public ruling on the matter when it has completed its investigation. The Commission has powers - under which it is conducting this inquiry - to launch investigations of its own volition rather than wait for a complaint by the public.