The editor of the Hackney and Islington Gazette newspapers has criticised police over their handling of press for two reported crimes in the east London boroughs.

Ramzy Alwakeel said in a column for the Islington paper that the “battle” his team had faced in acquiring the mugshot of a convicted paedophile had been “outrageous”.

He also claimed that an officer had “tried to convince” the victim’s family that they should not speak to the press – despite them first getting in touch with the newspaper.