How do I submit a complaint to Southampton Wire?
Please send your complaint by email to complaints@southamptonwire.co.uk. This dedicated address ensures your concern reaches our standards team directly and is logged promptly. We also accept complaints via post to our registered office, but email allows the fastest response.
When submitting a complaint, include the article title, URL or publication date, your full name and a clear description of what you believe is inaccurate, unfair or otherwise problematic. If the complaint relates to a specific factual error, provide supporting evidence. Our editorial policy sets out the standards we hold ourselves to, and your complaint will be assessed against those.
What happens after I send my complaint?
We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within two working days and assign it to Diane Forbes, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead. She will review the material, consult the relevant writer and editor, and gather all necessary context.
Diane will aim to give you a substantive response within ten working days. If the investigation requires more time – for example, when interviewing sources or checking historical records – we will update you on progress. Every complaint is recorded in our internal log and tracked to resolution. Our fact-checking policy explains how we verify claims before publication and how we correct them afterwards.
What you can expect from us
We handle every complaint fairly, transparently and with respect for your time. You will receive a clear explanation of our findings and any action taken.
Specifically, we will:
- Acknowledge your complaint quickly and assign a named contact.
- Investigate thoroughly using original sources, editorial records and, where appropriate, expert input.
- If an error is confirmed, publish a correction or clarification on the article itself and note it in our corrections policy log.
- If no error is found, explain our reasoning plainly and signpost further options.
- Keep your personal data secure and only use it to process your complaint (see our privacy policy).
Can I escalate my complaint if I am not satisfied?
Yes. If you disagree with our initial response, you may escalate the matter to the Editor-in-Chief, William Ashby, at william.ashby@southamptonwire.co.uk. He will conduct a fresh review and issue a final decision from Southampton Wire.
If you remain dissatisfied after that, you may appeal to the publisher, Sliema Media Limited (Malta Business Registry C 84217). Write to the registered office address or to publisher@southamptonwire.co.uk. As an independent digital publisher, we are committed to resolving complaints internally. If external regulation becomes relevant, we will inform you of the appropriate body. All escalation steps are detailed in our contact page and editorial policy.
Questions or concerns?
If you have any further questions about this complaints procedure or how to raise an issue, please email info@southamptonwire.co.uk. We are happy to guide you through the process before you submit a formal complaint.
For urgent matters relating to defamation, privacy or legal threats, contact our legal team at legal@southamptonwire.co.uk. For all other feedback, suggestions or tip-offs, use tips@southamptonwire.co.uk. We value your input and aim to make our journalism as accountable and trustworthy as possible.