Oxford University is embroiled in a censorship row after police confiscated 150 copies of a controversial student magazine.

The officers were called by student union leaders who claimed the No Offence magazine might upset rape victims and people from ethnic minorities.

Editor Jacob Williams said he was prevented from distributing the magazines. He feared being arrested as Thames Valley Police decided whether he had committed a crime, but they have now decided that no further action will be taken.

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Editor Jacob Williams, pictured, said he feared he was going to be arrested after his magazine was seized

The magazine was founded in response to a 'crisis of faith in the idea of free speech at universities'

The founders of the magazine claim it was set up in response to a ‘crisis of faith in the idea of free speech’ at universities. It is described as being ‘devoted to free speech’ and warns readers: ‘Expect to be offended.’

It has attracted controversy for articles including a defence of colonialism and an article entitled ‘Islam is not the religion of peace’. It also includes a satirical article about organising a ‘rape swagger’ in the style of a ‘slut walk’ – marches organised as protests against using a woman’s style of dress as an excuse for rape.

No Offence was banned from this year’s freshers’ fair by the Student Union, which said it was ‘offensive’, and when Mr Williams tried to distribute the magazine in Oxford High Street instead, union representatives reported him to the police.

Mr Williams, 21, a politics, philosophy and economics student at Exeter College, said officers told him that handing out the magazine may constitute a public order offence.

Oxford University and the student union have declined to comment on the censorship controversy

‘I have been sitting for nearly two weeks not knowing if I was going to be arrested over this,’ he said. ‘I have been very worried.’

He accused officers of ‘acting in a heavy-handed way’ and added: ‘It is incredibly important people are given the opportunity to engage with different ideas.

‘The Student Union isn’t in the business of protecting people from ideas they don’t like.’

Union official Kiran Benipal said the magazine was offensive and she alerted the authorities after a complaint from a fresher who was also a survivor of sexual assault.

Officers from Thames Valley Police approached the magazine stand while it was unattended and took all 150 copies ‘to assess whether the content was obscene’.