Naturist claims he was ‘harassed’ by off-duty cop for sitting nude on a bench

'A couple stopped to chat. They weren't at all bothered by my nakedness.'

A naturist has claimed he was ‘harassed’ and ‘assaulted’ by an off-duty Met Police officer because he was naked in public.

Richard Collins said the officer walked by him while he was sat on a bench in Hastings, East Sussex, on May 13.

The officer stopped, flashed his police ID, and ordered him to get dressed because children in the area were ‘distressed’, an allegation Mr Collins refutes.

He refused to get dressed and quoted the College of Policing guidelines on being naked in public.

But the off-duty cop said he was committing a crime and called 999.

At least six police officers from Sussex Police arrived in three police cars to the scene.

‘I have sat naked at this location on several occasions over the past fortnight for up to two hours each time without incident,’ Mr Collins said.

‘A couple stopped to chat. They weren’t at all bothered by my nakedness and we chatted for about five minutes when an off-duty officer from the Metropolitan Police coming down the hill approached me.

‘He identified himself, showed me his warrant card and alleged I was committing an offence of “indecent exposure” and asked me to get dressed.

‘I continued to sit naked, refusing to get dressed, and tried to explain the College of Policing guidelines refers to naked cycling, walking, swimming, sunbathing, etc, as “lawful activities” where there is no element of sexual behaviour or intent to cause alarm and distress.’

The College of Policing guidelines state: ‘The common law offence of outraging public decency applies when a person’s behaviour is so lewd, obscene or disgusting as to shock a reasonable person. This has a high threshold in law that simple public nudity would not reach.

‘A naturist whose intention is limited to going about their lawful business while naked will not be guilty of either of these sexual offences.’

Mr Collins claimed the off-duty cop would not let him leave the area and broke his bag strap.

He decided to call 999 too over claims he felt ‘harassed’ by the situation.

‘After waiting a further 10 minutes or so, I got up and left, as I didn’t think the police were going to attend. He asked me to wait, saying I was being detained. I refused on the grounds that it was an unlawful detention,’ Mr Collins said.

‘I found him following me on the hill, again asking me to stop and again saying I was being detained.

‘As he said Sussex Police were on their way, I turned around to go back to the seat I had been sitting on, but despite saying that was my intention, he repeatedly blocked my path by moving from side-to-side in front of me as I tried to walk around him.’

Mr Collins was then forced to get dressed but claimed the officer still tried to detain him.

He said: ‘I decided to don my skirt and walk down the steps into the Old Town, go for a coffee, as I had planned to do. I told him this.

‘He was again on his phone on a 999 call asking where the police were and even though I was now dressed, claimed the offence of “indecent exposure” was established and said I should remain and answer to this. Again I refused and started walking down the steps.’

Officers from Sussex Police spoke to the off-duty officer and Mr Collins was then de-arrested.

‘He [the Met officer] was taken to one side by the senior officer. He then appeared in front of me to say, words to the effect, “following listening to Sussex Police I am de-arresting you,”‘Mr Collins said.

‘It was then explained to me the Met Police officer had misused his powers while off-duty and there was a case to report him.

‘I’m having unpleasant flashbacks to the situation and feel my confidence has been affected. My thanks go to Sussex Police for acting in a professional, unbiased manner and resolving this situation.’

A spokesperson for Sussex Police added: ‘We can confirm we responded to a report of a naked man arrested by an off-duty Met Police officer in Hastings on May 13. No offences were committed and the man was de-arrested.’

A spokesperson for the Met said a formal complaint had been received and is ‘being assessed’.

They added: ‘On Saturday, May 13, an off-duty MPS officer arrested a man on suspicion of indecent exposure after seeing him naked in Hastings Old Town.

‘Sussex Police were called and, after speaking to them, the man was de-arrested. He then went on his way.’

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