Wiltshire Police has issued an apology after requesting the names of four customers who had purchased the special Charlie Hebdo magazine from a newsagent in Corsham.

The magazine, which was the first to be published after the shootings at the Charlie Hebdo headquarters in Paris on January 7, was put together by surviving cartoonists and former contributors and featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad on its cover.

It was translated into five languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, Arabic and Turkish, with a limited number of the ‘Je Suis Charlie’ editions going on sale in the UK on January 16.

However, a letter in today’s Guardian from Anne Keat, who lives in Corsham and managed to get a copy of the issue from Hawthorn Stores, revealed that Wiltshire Police had asked for the details of those who had purchased the magazine.

The letter said: “Your offer of commemorative badges in support of journalistic freedom highlighting 'Je suis Charlie', prompts me to suggest a degree of caution following my experience.

“Tongue in cheek, I asked my helpful newsagents to obtain a copy of the edition of Charlie Hebdo issued after the dreadful massacre in Paris, if indeed a copy was ever available in north Wiltshire.

“To my surprise, a copy arrived last Wednesday week and although the standard of content in no way matches that of the Guardian I will cherish it.

“However, two days later a member of Her Majesty’s police service visited said newsagent, requesting the names of the four customers who had purchased Charlie Hebdo. So beware, your badges may attract police interest in your customers.”

Wiltshire Police has now confirmed that an officer did visit a local shop in Corsham to request the names of those who had purchased the copies of the magazine and issued an apology “to the members of the public who may be affected by this”.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “Following the terrorism incident in Paris, France on 7 January 2015, Wiltshire Police undertook an assessment of community tensions across the county.

“As part of this work, local sector policing teams were asked to be mindful of business premises, in particular newsagents who may be distributing the Charlie Hebdo magazine and to consider that these shops may be vulnerable.

“There was no specific threat nationally and nothing to suggest newsagents in particular would be vulnerable.

“A police officer visited a local shop and post office in Corsham to make an assessment of community tensions and, if appropriate, encourage the newsagent’s owner to be vigilant.

“During this conversation the officer requested information about subscribers to the Charlie Hebdo magazine.

“Wiltshire Police would like to apologise to the members of public who may be affected by this. Information relating to this specific incident has been permanently and securely disposed of.

“Wiltshire Police are confident that the police officer’s intention was purely around enhancing public safety and ensuring that the newsagent was advised appropriately.”