Blue111
Man of mystery
Mr Mahmood has previously defended his methods.
He said: "I don't think there's anything wrong with journalists exposing drug dealers... I've got 98 criminal convictions as a result of my work, so I must be doing something right."
He is also adept at infiltrating criminal ranks within the Asian community and has exposed numerous immigration scams and bogus marriages.
For a man so skilled at exposing others, Mazher Mahmood is obsessive about maintaining his own privacy.
It is known that he comes from somewhere in the West Midlands, and has worked on the Sunday Times and in television production.
'Entrapment' under fire
The self-styled scourge of the criminal world works secretively, rarely going into the office at News International in Wapping.
Written into Mr Mahmood's contract is a clause stating that his photograph will never be published in the newspaper.
If he features in photos that accompany his stories, his face is always concealed and a silhouette is used next to his byline.
When Mr Mahmood won the Reporter of the Year award, a figure attired in full sheikh's outfit, with the face covered, went up to collect the award - only for the robes to be thrown off to reveal Kelvin Mackenzie, former editor of The Sun.
Although Mr Mahmood has helped to expose crime, many find the way he does it both morally and ethically distasteful.
Lawyers have argued that Mr Mahmood's conduct, backed by the editorial policy of the News of the World, deliberately involves serious breaches of the law.
However, his work continues unabated and he often works closely with officers and says he co-operates with police at all times.
Mr Mahmood has previously defended his methods.
He said: "I don't think there's anything wrong with journalists exposing drug dealers... I've got 98 criminal convictions as a result of my work, so I must be doing something right."
He is also adept at infiltrating criminal ranks within the Asian community and has exposed numerous immigration scams and bogus marriages.
For a man so skilled at exposing others, Mazher Mahmood is obsessive about maintaining his own privacy.
It is known that he comes from somewhere in the West Midlands, and has worked on the Sunday Times and in television production.
'Entrapment' under fire
The self-styled scourge of the criminal world works secretively, rarely going into the office at News International in Wapping.
Written into Mr Mahmood's contract is a clause stating that his photograph will never be published in the newspaper.
If he features in photos that accompany his stories, his face is always concealed and a silhouette is used next to his byline.
When Mr Mahmood won the Reporter of the Year award, a figure attired in full sheikh's outfit, with the face covered, went up to collect the award - only for the robes to be thrown off to reveal Kelvin Mackenzie, former editor of The Sun.
Although Mr Mahmood has helped to expose crime, many find the way he does it both morally and ethically distasteful.
Lawyers have argued that Mr Mahmood's conduct, backed by the editorial policy of the News of the World, deliberately involves serious breaches of the law.
However, his work continues unabated and he often works closely with officers and says he co-operates with police at all times.