Clothing that describes Jesus Christ as a profanity was seized from a south Invercargill store by police yesterday.

Police took away the offending apparel after being asked to do so by Internal Affairs.

The tops would be sent to the department which would decide, after consulting with police, whether the owners of theImpuls'd store which sells them would be charged with any criminal offences.

The Southland Times yesterday revealed the store, owned byWarren and Angela Skill, was selling hooded tops with the words "Jesus is a c***" emblazoned on the back.

Sergeant Brock Davis, of Invercargill, said police visited the store mid-afternoon and seized between 10 and 15 hooded tops and long-sleeved T-shirts with the offending words on them. The owner was co-operative, he said.

People have been seen wearing the tops on city streets in the past week, with a 68-year-old visitor to the city saying she was horrified when she saw a man walking along Dunns Rd with the offending words emblazoned across his back.

In 2008, T-shirts with the same wording were banned by then chief censor Bill Hastings. The ban made any act of possessing, wearing, distributing or selling the T-shirt, or another top withthe same wording and imagery, illegal.

Sarah Shirley, an 18-year-old Invercargill resident who was wearing one of the tops in the city this week, said yesterday it was ridiculous that police had seized the hooded tops from the store.

The tops advertise an album for British extreme metal group Cradle of Filth.

"It's only a band. It's no different to anyone wearing a Mongrel Mob patch or colours," Ms Shirley said. If police were going to crack down on people wearing the tops on city streets she would hang hers on the wall at home.

Mr Terry said if a member of the public complained to police about someone wearing one of the offending tops in a public place, police would investigate and charges could be laid for disorderly, offensive or insulting behaviour. If convicted, penalties ranged from fines to three months' jail.

People had varying comments about the tops when writing on The Southland Times Facebook page yesterday.

Colin Morrison, the pastor of Edendale Presbyterian Church, wrote that he felt sorry for people who needed to express themselves in such a way and he would be praying for them.

"Also I am sad at the way they find such language acceptable, just shows how far we have slipped as a caring and loving society."

Alanna Saunders said she didn't believe in God but there was "just no need" for the offending shirts.

Mr Skill, the owner of the Impuls'd store, did not return calls yesterday afternoon.

In an interview with TVNZ's Close Up, Mr Skill said police seized four hooded tops and four T-shirts.

The seizure came after a last-minute rush on the shirts, he said.

"Most of them sold out today."

Mr Skill showed another example of his merchandise – a shirt bearing the words "F*** me Jesus", but said police had "not been interested in it".

Reaction had been swift – he and staff being told they would "go to hell".

He was seeking advice from his lawyer regarding the seizure.

- The Southland Times