Police action over Gareth Davies threatens UK press freedoms

Gareth Davies of the Croydon Advertiser

Heading from the petition from The Press Gazette 

to the Met Commissioner

The background to the petition:

On 31 March 2014 three Metropolitan Police officers issued Croydon Advertiser reporter Gareth Davies with a Police Information Notice prevention of harassment letter. 

This PIN was prompted by him sending one email and making one doorstep visit to convicted criminal Neelam Desai. 

Davies was following up on complaints from readers that Desai had conned them out of tens of thousands of pounds. 

He was warned that if he contacted her again he could be arrested.' 

Read the rest here and please sign this petition 

Read here the very supportive letter written by Gavin Barwell, MP for Croydon Central.

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The Police's decision to issue Gareth Davies with a Police Information Notice prevention of harassment letter on the basis of one email sent to an alleged fraudster, who he was investigating plus one visit to her home is both absurd and a deeply dangerous precedent. The provisions of the harassment law are not intended to hamper the work of a responsible journalist. By sending a single email to the alleged fraudster, Davies was giving her the opportunity to reply to the allegations.

The police appear to be being overwhelmed by a unprecendented surge of companies seeking to scam investors by offering a range of high dubious alternative investments. You would have thought the police would be welcoming the work of journalists like Gareth Davies rather than seeking to hamper him.

If you live in the UK and believe responsible press freedom to be important, please sign the petition.