More than 500 journalists, politicians and press freedom fighters have signed a petition calling on the Metropolitan Police to cancel a harassment warning letter issued to a Croydon Advertiser reporter.

Earlier this week, the Independent Police Complaints Commission ruled that officers were right to issue Gareth Davies with the Police Information Notice after he asked questions of a con-artist.

Three Met police officers visited Croydon Advertiser chief reporter Gareth Davies on 31 March last year and warned him that if he contacted Neelam Desai again he could be arrested. At the time she made her complaint Davies had sent her one email and also called at her home on one occasion.