View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
September 15, 2015updated 16 Sep 2015 1:10pm

Croydon Advertiser seeks judicial review of police harassment warning given to reporter who asked questions of con woman

By Dominic Ponsford

Publisher Local World is taking the police watchdog to court in a bid to overturn a written harassment warning which was issued to a reporter who put questions to a convicted con woman.

Croydon Advertiser chief reporter Gareth Davies and his publisher Local World are seeking a judicial review of a  decision from the Independent Police Complaints Commission which in June rejected a complaint from him.

Three Met Police officers visited Davies at his offices on 31 March last year and issued him with a Police Information Notice warning him that if he contacted Neelam Desai again he could be arrested.

At this stage, Davies had sent her one email and also called at her home on one occasion. 

Desai, who at this stage had already admitted frauds totalling £230,000, alleged that the contact was more widespread.

Davies told officers at the time that he was simply doing his job and also disputed Desai’s version of events. They told him they weren’t there to argue the case and made a reference to the phone-hackers at the News of the World.

The Croydon Advertiser appealed against the harassment warning only for it to be upheld by Croydon police inspector Claire Robbins.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

She said that Davies’ actions “went beyond what was reasonable”. Davies was investigating claims that Desai – who was later jailed – had conned readers out of tens of thousands.

IPCC caseworker Paul Berry rejected a further complaint saying that police officers are not obliged to investigate before issuing harassment warnings via a Police Information Notice.

He said: “I agree that is was possibly misguided for the officer to refer to the phone-hacking scandal but, in terms of the allegation under investigation, I am of the opinion the evidence shows the harassment warning was issued in order to bring to your attention the fact that your approaches to Ms Desai were considered to have gone beyond a reasonable course of conduct.”

Davies told the Croydon Advertiser: "I acted both within the law and the guidelines I am given as a journalist, but this case is about more than my conduct.

"It questions whether it should be possible to use PINs, or harassment warnings, to block or impede responsible journalism. It also asks whether these warnings are being fairly used when applied to the general public.

"I am very pleased that, in supporting me, Local World has recognised how significant these issues are."

A spokesperson for Local World said: "Currently the police are able to issue harassment warnings, which can appear on a person's record, without investigating whether the allegations are genuine.

"That cannot be right and for the benefit of all journalists across the entire industry as well as Gareth personally we hope the judicial review will confirm this very important point."

Nearly 2,000 people have signed a Press Gazette petition urging Met Police Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to cancel the PIN issued to Davies.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network