Hertfordshire police asked the satirical journal, edited by Ian Hislop, to disclose details of all its subscribers in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

Police asked Private Eye to hand over the names of its subscribers in three counties after a joke cut out from its pages was sent to a force employee.

Officers made the request after a Muslim woman in a civilian role received a clipping in the internal mail.

Hertfordshire police asked the satirical journal, edited by Ian Hislop, to disclose details of all its subscribers in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. When the title refused, the force sought a court order.

The joke touched on Islamic terrorism meaning it was investigated as a potentially racist offence under the Malicious Communications Act.

Judge David Farrell, QC, rejected the application, which was narrowed to cover Hertfordshire, at Cambridge crown court.

He accused police of taking a “shot in