Local World seeks Judicial Review

Croydon Advertiser journalist, Gareth Davies is seeking a judicial review into the Independent Police Complaints Commission’s decision to uphold a harassment warning served against him, HoldtheFrontPage reported.

Mr Davies was issued with the warning by the Metropolitan Police after door-stepping and sending emails to a convicted fraudster.

The Metropolitan Police rejected a complaint by Mr Davies against his treatment and its decision was upheld by the IPCC in June.

With the support of the Croydon Advertiser’s publisher, Local World, Mr Davies is seeking a judicial review of that decision on the grounds that the force’s actions were “irrational and unlawful.”

Local World and Mr Davies are seeking a declaration from the IPCC that the PIN should not have been issued, that the IPCC’s decision should be quashed and that it should be directed to instruct the Met to remove the warning from its records or reinvestigate the matter.

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.”