We are told that the press needs regulating because people have been the victims of press abuse. But what exactly is press abuse? This vague term, trotted out by politicians, judges and ‘responsible’ journalists, includes reporters pestering bereaved relatives, press photographers chasing after celebrities as well as stories or pictures which the victim finds upsetting. Press abuse can be anything we find immoral, vulgar, uncaring or hurtful.

It seems that today annoying behaviour and difficult relationships are being redefined as abusive, and we are finding abuse behind every closed door.

So alongside child abuse we now have elder abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, alcohol abuse, drug abuse and even parental abuse (that’s abuse of parents by their kids). We live in a society in which smacking, having an argument, getting drunk, getting high, and shouting at our parents are all redefined as abuse. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that the press has come under the same catch all term.