Police are requesting “on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service” that magazine vendors refrain from selling today’s edition of Private Eye. This afternoon two plain clothes policemen asked this vendor working outside Farringdon Station to take down this week’s Eye. When the vendor, who does not wish to be named, asked them why, they said it was at the request of the CPS, specifically because of the cover featuring Rebekah Brooks. They showed identification. The vendor told the cops he would keep selling them unless they produced a court order. Chilling…

Down the road at the nearby Old Bailey potential jurors were asked if they were readers of Private Eye or Guido Fawkes during the selection process. If they answered affirmatively they were excused from jury service. Anyone else a little hacked off by all this?

UPDATE: Index on Censorship – the free speech campaign with offices near Farringdon Station – went to check for themselves:

News vendor has confirmed to index that he was told potential contempt issues with @privateeyenews cover — Padraig Reidy (@mePadraigReidy) October 29, 2013

The judge doesn’t find Private Eye amusing:

Judge tells jurors to ignore edition of Private Eye out today making 'bad taste' joke about Rebekah Brooks — CourtNewsUK (@CourtNewsUK) October 29, 2013

UPDATE: 17.24