A naturist has accused an off-duty Met police officer of ‘harassment’ after he was arrested while sat nude on a bench despite police later determining he was not committing an offence.
Richard Collins, a member of British Naturism and the founder of Naturists UK, said he was arrested under a false allegation of indecent exposure, before being de-arrested when Sussex Police arrived.
He said he was sat on a bench in Hastings, East Sussex, on May 13, as he had done on ‘several occasions’ when the officer stopped, flashed his police ID, and ordered him to get dressed.
Mr Collins refused, quoting the College of Policing guidelines on being naked in public, but the officer insisted he was committing a crime and called 999 before detaining the naturist.
Sussex Police then sent three patrol cars, with at least six officers, to the popular area of the seaside town where Mr Collins was then de-arrested by the same cop.
Naturist Richard Collins (pictured) has accused an off-duty Met police officer of ‘harassment’ after he was arrested while sat nude on a bench
He said he was arrested under a false allegation of indecent exposure, before being de-arrested when Sussex Police (pictured) arrived
Sussex police officers later determined he was not committing an offence
Describing how the incident began, Mr Collins said: ‘I have sat naked at this location on several occasions over the past fortnight for up to two hours each time without incident.
‘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 on public nudity 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 officer would not let him leave the area, even grabbing him and breaking his bag strap.
The naturist said the off-duty officer he was being ‘so unreasonable and aggressive’ that he also called the emergency services.
During the emergency call to Sussex Police, the officer also claimed children were ‘distressed’ at him being in the nude, an allegation Mr Collins refutes.
He added: ‘I decided to dial 999 myself to report that I was being harassed by an off-duty police officer from the Met. The call ended with me being told police were on their way.
‘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.
‘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.’
Sussex Police then sent three patrol cars, with at least six officers, to the popular area of the seaside town
Mr Collins was later de-arrested by the same cop
Mr Collins then got dressed, but the officer still tried to detain him, it was claimed.
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.’
When Sussex Police arrived their officers spoke to the off-duty cop and Mr Collins was de-arrested.
He claimed: ‘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’.
‘It was then explained to me that 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.’
Sussex Police confirmed no offences were committed during the incident.
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘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 Police said a formal complaint had been received and is ‘being assessed’.
He 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.’
