How to complain about a comment

We want our users to help us keep the discussions accessible, safe and acceptable to all, so we welcome complaints and will deal with them speedily.

Please don't abuse the complaints facility. It is only for serious complaints about comments, namely that they are obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, harmful, profane, racially offensive, or otherwise strongly objectionable.

Please do not use the complaints facility to complain about such things as spelling errors or differences of opinion.

If you think a comment breaks theHouse Rules, click on the link below the comment that says "Alert a Moderator". You will get a postform, which you can fill in, telling us why you think the comment is not acceptable.

Once you press the Submit button, your complaint will be brought to the attention of the Have Your Say moderators. You will get a complaint reference number in case you want to contact us again about your complaint.

The Have Your Say moderators will decide whether the comment breaks the House Rules. If it does, they will remove it. If it doesn't, it will be allowed to remain on the site.

We will not normally enter into correspondence about complaints, but will do so in special cases.