The British Cabinet minister responsible for the media says the press must face tougher penalties for breaches of standards in the wake of the tabloid phone-hacking scandal.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the BBC on Sunday that newspapers must change their system of self-regulation, but insisted the government should not have any role.

He said the written media need a tougher system of industry-led regulation, with the capacity to hand out "credible punishment" for transgressions.

The Press Complaints Commission - the current watchdog - can demand a newspaper publishes an apology, but has no power to issue fines. Broadcasters have a separate regulatory system.

Britain's media ethics inquiry led by judge Brian Leveson is expected to recommend major changes to press regulation.