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Police patrol path as naked ramblers pass
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THERE was a heavy police presence over the weekend as a group of naturists stripped off and embarked on a cliff-top walk for charity.
The nudists made a plea to be unmolested by the authorities before their trek along the scenic route on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.
But about 10 uniformed officers met the walkers in Swanage on Saturday morning - and a helicopter hovered above to track their progress.
Being naked is not an offence in itself, but causing alarm by being unclothed can breach section five of the public order act 1986.
The male group of about 20 walkers had rucksacks and wore only hiking boots, with some holding sticks. The nudists wanted an uninhibited passage but were read a statement by police prior to embarking on their walk.
It warned them that they faced arrest if they failed to clothe themselves when told do to so by officers who would be patrolling the path.
A spokesman from the coastguard said: "We heard there were naturists doing a walk.
"And we were glad there were no accidents because we wouldn't have known where to put the strops if they'd fallen.
"Having divested themselves of their clothing the nudists began the 20-mile trek to raise cash for the Marine Conservation Society.
Organiser Chris Lamb, 62, said: "There is no law in this country that says you can't be naked. You must just not expose your genitals with the intention of offending people.
"If you don't intend to alarm people then there is no problem. If someone is alarmed then you put your clothes on, but I would normally just carry on.
"If you suddenly put your clothes on when people are approaching it looks like you're doing something wrong, and you're not.
"I would of course put my clothes on if a person is obviously upset by it."
One onlooker said: "It was quite a bizarre sight, they all seemed old men and clearly were enjoying themselves.
"I did see a couple clamber over a stile and it is not a sight I ever want to see again."
The group finished at Lulworth Cove later in the afternoon. Police today refused to confirm if any of the walkers were arrested.
9:19am Monday 4th June 2007
CommentPosted by: Terry, weymuff on 11:37am Mon 4 Jun 07
Where did they find all the police? and of course we pay for the helicopter. Unless a member of the public actually complained IMO there was no need for a police presence, they could have been better employed catching 'criminal' motorists exceeding the speed limit.
Where did they find all the police? and of course we pay for the helicopter. Unless a member of the public actually complained IMO there was no need for a police presence, they could have been better employed catching 'criminal' motorists exceeding the speed limit.Quote | Report this postPosted by: chris edwards, weymouth on 12:22pm Mon 4 Jun 07
I expect if the discription given by an on looker is corect the officers involved would have much rather been catching speeding motorists, but i would like to see them catching drivers witout |tax MOT or insurance
I expect if the discription given by an on looker is corect the officers involved would have much rather been catching speeding motorists, but i would like to see them catching drivers witout |tax MOT or insuranceQuote | Report this postPosted by: Albo, Wyke Regis on 12:45pm Mon 4 Jun 07
"Morning officer. Is that your truncheon, or are you pleased to see me?" /I'll get me coat
"Morning officer. Is that your truncheon, or are you pleased to see me?"
/I'll get me coatQuote | Report this postPosted by: milfmog, Buckinghamshire on 1:19pm Mon 4 Jun 07
As one of the walkers I (almost) resent being called old, but accept that I'm not pretty! However I was offended by a police officer, equipped with a video camera, who went out of his way to stop all walkers on the path and invite them to complain about the naturists. Surely if they wanted to complain they would approach a uniformed officer and tell him so? I can't help feeling that the police presence was oppressive and unnecessary. Limited police resources could surely have been used far more effectively elsewhere; at Worbarrow Bay I saw eight officers and four vehicles. Had all crime in Dorset been cancelled for the day? Or were there plenty of other officers responding to reported crimes across the county? Naturism may not be to everyone's tastes, but it is not illegal and no one has ever been harmed simply by the sight of a member of their own species. What a shame the officers did not get sponsored and raise a few more pennies for the Marine Conservation Society, at least that way their time would not have been completely wasted...
As one of the walkers I (almost) resent being called old, but accept that I'm not pretty!
However I was offended by a police officer, equipped with a video camera, who went out of his way to stop all walkers on the path and invite them to complain about the naturists. Surely if they wanted to complain they would approach a uniformed officer and tell him so?
I can't help feeling that the police presence was oppressive and unnecessary. Limited police resources could surely have been used far more effectively elsewhere; at Worbarrow Bay I saw eight officers and four vehicles. Had all crime in Dorset been cancelled for the day? Or were there plenty of other officers responding to reported crimes across the county?
Naturism may not be to everyone's tastes, but it is not illegal and no one has ever been harmed simply by the sight of a member of their own species.
What a shame the officers did not get sponsored and raise a few more pennies for the Marine Conservation Society, at least that way their time would not have been completely wasted...
Quote | Report this postPosted by: ian on 7:19pm Mon 4 Jun 07
I do hope you have complained at this form of figure boosting policing bordering on harrassment. What on earth is an officer doing ASKING people if they want to complain if nobody has complained? ...don;t worry about the crack head stealing your belongings though will they?
milfmog wrote:
As one of the walkers I (almost) resent being called old, but accept that I'm not pretty!
However I was offended by a police officer, equipped with a video camera, who went out of his way to stop all walkers on the path and invite them to complain about the naturists. Surely if they wanted to complain they would approach a uniformed officer and tell him so?
I can't help feeling that the police presence was oppressive and unnecessary. Limited police resources could surely have been used far more effectively elsewhere; at Worbarrow Bay I saw eight officers and four vehicles. Had all crime in Dorset been cancelled for the day? Or were there plenty of other officers responding to reported crimes across the county?
Naturism may not be to everyone's tastes, but it is not illegal and no one has ever been harmed simply by the sight of a member of their own species.
What a shame the officers did not get sponsored and raise a few more pennies for the Marine Conservation Society, at least that way their time would not have been completely wasted...
I do hope you have complained at this form of figure boosting policing bordering on harrassment.
What on earth is an officer doing ASKING people if they want to complain if nobody has complained?
...don;t worry about the crack head stealing your belongings though will they?
Quote | Report this postPosted by: Barry on 8:07pm Mon 4 Jun 07
The sort of attention shown by the police in this case seems to amount to harassment. Perhaps the Police Complaints Commission should now be informed.
The sort of attention shown by the police in this case seems to amount to harassment. Perhaps the Police Complaints Commission should now be informed.Quote | Report this postPosted by: Terry on 8:19pm Mon 4 Jun 07
How, Barry?
How, Barry?Quote | Report this postPosted by: chris, dorset on 10:27pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Did my tax money really pay for the police to supervise a group of harmless old blokes out for a walk? Did you mention they were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society?
Did my tax money really pay for the police to supervise a group of harmless old blokes out for a walk?
Did you mention they were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society?Quote | Report this postPosted by: ian on 11:18pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Simple, go on the web and look it up, however like all such "so called" independant watchdogs (codename for B.S) they are actually investigated by other police officers in neighbour counties. In other words the PCC are police , policing the police, with no truly independant policing of the police policing the police...get the drift? Same as the watchdog watching over doctors is all doctors...do you still have faith in this "democratic system?"
Terry wrote:
How, Barry?
Simple, go on the web and look it up, however like all such "so called" independant watchdogs (codename for B.S) they are actually investigated by other police officers in neighbour counties.
In other words the PCC are police , policing the police, with no truly independant policing of the police policing the police...get the drift?
Same as the watchdog watching over doctors is all doctors...do you still have faith in this "democratic system?"
Quote | Report this postPosted by: Running Bear, Somerset on 7:22am Tue 5 Jun 07
I was a walker. I was mainly concerned with a lone female police officer that was both inadequately dressed (shoes, water) for the conditions and was isolated and therefore vunerable to a public incident unrelated to our walk. Heath and safety/risk assessment should not have permitted this. The police presence was excessive but I was not intimidated just treated them like a mosquito. I enjoyed the walk and made friends with my lady officer (her textile me naturist)and felt it was a waste of police resources but it ceratinly was good for publicity.
I was a walker. I was mainly concerned with a lone female police officer that was both inadequately dressed (shoes, water) for the conditions and was isolated and therefore vunerable to a public incident unrelated to our walk. Heath and safety/risk assessment should not have permitted this.
The police presence was excessive but I was not intimidated just treated them like a mosquito. I enjoyed the walk and made friends with my lady officer (her textile me naturist)and felt it was a waste of police resources but it ceratinly was good for publicity.Quote | Report this postPosted by: Perry, Fowlmere on 8:41pm Tue 5 Jun 07
I was on the naked walk. There were 15 of us who started the walk and 8 finished, at times accompanied by six police officers. They asked any approaching ramblers if they would be offended by our nudity. Police bringing up the rear then quizzed those same ramblers recording their views on video. Wherever a road came down to the path there were more police with squad cars and "paddy" wagons to take us away, ha ha. Can any one think of any other occasion where the police are so active in anticipating and preventing a potential "crime" from being committed? It was almost inciteful and pretty insulting to my colleagues and I who were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society. I'm glad I'm not a council tax payer in Purbeck!
I was on the naked walk. There were 15 of us who started the walk and 8 finished, at times accompanied by six police officers. They asked any approaching ramblers if they would be offended by our nudity. Police bringing up the rear then quizzed those same ramblers recording their views on video. Wherever a road came down to the path there were more police with squad cars and "paddy" wagons to take us away, ha ha. Can any one think of any other occasion where the police are so active in anticipating and preventing a potential "crime" from being committed? It was almost inciteful and pretty insulting to my colleagues and I who were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society. I'm glad I'm not a council tax payer in Purbeck!Quote | Report this postPosted by: Perry, Fowlmere on 8:42pm Tue 5 Jun 07
I was on the naked walk. There were 15 of us who started the walk and 8 finished, at times accompanied by six police officers. They asked any approaching ramblers if they would be offended by our nudity. Police bringing up the rear then quizzed those same ramblers recording their views on video. Wherever a road came down to the path there were more police with squad cars and "paddy" wagons to take us away, ha ha. Can any one think of any other occasion where the police are so active in anticipating and preventing a potential "crime" from being committed? It was almost inciteful and pretty insulting to my colleagues and I who were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society. I'm glad I'm not a council tax payer in Purbeck!
I was on the naked walk. There were 15 of us who started the walk and 8 finished, at times accompanied by six police officers. They asked any approaching ramblers if they would be offended by our nudity. Police bringing up the rear then quizzed those same ramblers recording their views on video. Wherever a road came down to the path there were more police with squad cars and "paddy" wagons to take us away, ha ha. Can any one think of any other occasion where the police are so active in anticipating and preventing a potential "crime" from being committed? It was almost inciteful and pretty insulting to my colleagues and I who were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society. I'm glad I'm not a council tax payer in Purbeck!Quote | Report this postAdd your commentPlease note: to publish your comment you must be registered on this site. If you are already registered, please enter your details below.
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http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.1444798.0.polic...ed_ramblers_pass.php
Comment | Read Comments (12)
THERE was a heavy police presence over the weekend as a group of naturists stripped off and embarked on a cliff-top walk for charity.
The nudists made a plea to be unmolested by the authorities before their trek along the scenic route on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.
But about 10 uniformed officers met the walkers in Swanage on Saturday morning - and a helicopter hovered above to track their progress.
Being naked is not an offence in itself, but causing alarm by being unclothed can breach section five of the public order act 1986.
The male group of about 20 walkers had rucksacks and wore only hiking boots, with some holding sticks. The nudists wanted an uninhibited passage but were read a statement by police prior to embarking on their walk.
It warned them that they faced arrest if they failed to clothe themselves when told do to so by officers who would be patrolling the path.
A spokesman from the coastguard said: "We heard there were naturists doing a walk.
"And we were glad there were no accidents because we wouldn't have known where to put the strops if they'd fallen.
"Having divested themselves of their clothing the nudists began the 20-mile trek to raise cash for the Marine Conservation Society.
Organiser Chris Lamb, 62, said: "There is no law in this country that says you can't be naked. You must just not expose your genitals with the intention of offending people.
"If you don't intend to alarm people then there is no problem. If someone is alarmed then you put your clothes on, but I would normally just carry on.
"If you suddenly put your clothes on when people are approaching it looks like you're doing something wrong, and you're not.
"I would of course put my clothes on if a person is obviously upset by it."
One onlooker said: "It was quite a bizarre sight, they all seemed old men and clearly were enjoying themselves.
"I did see a couple clamber over a stile and it is not a sight I ever want to see again."
The group finished at Lulworth Cove later in the afternoon. Police today refused to confirm if any of the walkers were arrested.
9:19am Monday 4th June 2007
CommentPosted by: Terry, weymuff on 11:37am Mon 4 Jun 07
Where did they find all the police? and of course we pay for the helicopter. Unless a member of the public actually complained IMO there was no need for a police presence, they could have been better employed catching 'criminal' motorists exceeding the speed limit.
Where did they find all the police? and of course we pay for the helicopter. Unless a member of the public actually complained IMO there was no need for a police presence, they could have been better employed catching 'criminal' motorists exceeding the speed limit.Quote | Report this postPosted by: chris edwards, weymouth on 12:22pm Mon 4 Jun 07
I expect if the discription given by an on looker is corect the officers involved would have much rather been catching speeding motorists, but i would like to see them catching drivers witout |tax MOT or insurance
I expect if the discription given by an on looker is corect the officers involved would have much rather been catching speeding motorists, but i would like to see them catching drivers witout |tax MOT or insuranceQuote | Report this postPosted by: Albo, Wyke Regis on 12:45pm Mon 4 Jun 07
"Morning officer. Is that your truncheon, or are you pleased to see me?" /I'll get me coat
"Morning officer. Is that your truncheon, or are you pleased to see me?"
/I'll get me coatQuote | Report this postPosted by: milfmog, Buckinghamshire on 1:19pm Mon 4 Jun 07
As one of the walkers I (almost) resent being called old, but accept that I'm not pretty! However I was offended by a police officer, equipped with a video camera, who went out of his way to stop all walkers on the path and invite them to complain about the naturists. Surely if they wanted to complain they would approach a uniformed officer and tell him so? I can't help feeling that the police presence was oppressive and unnecessary. Limited police resources could surely have been used far more effectively elsewhere; at Worbarrow Bay I saw eight officers and four vehicles. Had all crime in Dorset been cancelled for the day? Or were there plenty of other officers responding to reported crimes across the county? Naturism may not be to everyone's tastes, but it is not illegal and no one has ever been harmed simply by the sight of a member of their own species. What a shame the officers did not get sponsored and raise a few more pennies for the Marine Conservation Society, at least that way their time would not have been completely wasted...
As one of the walkers I (almost) resent being called old, but accept that I'm not pretty!
However I was offended by a police officer, equipped with a video camera, who went out of his way to stop all walkers on the path and invite them to complain about the naturists. Surely if they wanted to complain they would approach a uniformed officer and tell him so?
I can't help feeling that the police presence was oppressive and unnecessary. Limited police resources could surely have been used far more effectively elsewhere; at Worbarrow Bay I saw eight officers and four vehicles. Had all crime in Dorset been cancelled for the day? Or were there plenty of other officers responding to reported crimes across the county?
Naturism may not be to everyone's tastes, but it is not illegal and no one has ever been harmed simply by the sight of a member of their own species.
What a shame the officers did not get sponsored and raise a few more pennies for the Marine Conservation Society, at least that way their time would not have been completely wasted...
Quote | Report this postPosted by: ian on 7:19pm Mon 4 Jun 07
[bold]milfmog[/bold] wrote: As one of the walkers I (almost) resent being called old, but accept that I'm not pretty! However I was offended by a police officer, equipped with a video camera, who went out of his way to stop all walkers on the path and invite them to complain about the naturists. Surely if they wanted to complain they would approach a uniformed officer and tell him so? I can't help feeling that the police presence was oppressive and unnecessary. Limited police resources could surely have been used far more effectively elsewhere; at Worbarrow Bay I saw eight officers and four vehicles. Had all crime in Dorset been cancelled for the day? Or were there plenty of other officers responding to reported crimes across the county? Naturism may not be to everyone's tastes, but it is not illegal and no one has ever been harmed simply by the sight of a member of their own species. What a shame the officers did not get sponsored and raise a few more pennies for the Marine Conservation Society, at least that way their time would not have been completely wasted...
milfmog wrote:
As one of the walkers I (almost) resent being called old, but accept that I'm not pretty!
However I was offended by a police officer, equipped with a video camera, who went out of his way to stop all walkers on the path and invite them to complain about the naturists. Surely if they wanted to complain they would approach a uniformed officer and tell him so?
I can't help feeling that the police presence was oppressive and unnecessary. Limited police resources could surely have been used far more effectively elsewhere; at Worbarrow Bay I saw eight officers and four vehicles. Had all crime in Dorset been cancelled for the day? Or were there plenty of other officers responding to reported crimes across the county?
Naturism may not be to everyone's tastes, but it is not illegal and no one has ever been harmed simply by the sight of a member of their own species.
What a shame the officers did not get sponsored and raise a few more pennies for the Marine Conservation Society, at least that way their time would not have been completely wasted...
I do hope you have complained at this form of figure boosting policing bordering on harrassment.
What on earth is an officer doing ASKING people if they want to complain if nobody has complained?
...don;t worry about the crack head stealing your belongings though will they?
Quote | Report this postPosted by: Barry on 8:07pm Mon 4 Jun 07
The sort of attention shown by the police in this case seems to amount to harassment. Perhaps the Police Complaints Commission should now be informed.
The sort of attention shown by the police in this case seems to amount to harassment. Perhaps the Police Complaints Commission should now be informed.Quote | Report this postPosted by: Terry on 8:19pm Mon 4 Jun 07
How, Barry?
How, Barry?Quote | Report this postPosted by: chris, dorset on 10:27pm Mon 4 Jun 07
Did my tax money really pay for the police to supervise a group of harmless old blokes out for a walk? Did you mention they were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society?
Did my tax money really pay for the police to supervise a group of harmless old blokes out for a walk?
Did you mention they were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society?Quote | Report this postPosted by: ian on 11:18pm Mon 4 Jun 07
[bold]Terry[/bold] wrote: How, Barry?
Terry wrote:
How, Barry?
Simple, go on the web and look it up, however like all such "so called" independant watchdogs (codename for B.S) they are actually investigated by other police officers in neighbour counties.
In other words the PCC are police , policing the police, with no truly independant policing of the police policing the police...get the drift?
Same as the watchdog watching over doctors is all doctors...do you still have faith in this "democratic system?"
Quote | Report this postPosted by: Running Bear, Somerset on 7:22am Tue 5 Jun 07
I was a walker. I was mainly concerned with a lone female police officer that was both inadequately dressed (shoes, water) for the conditions and was isolated and therefore vunerable to a public incident unrelated to our walk. Heath and safety/risk assessment should not have permitted this. The police presence was excessive but I was not intimidated just treated them like a mosquito. I enjoyed the walk and made friends with my lady officer (her textile me naturist)and felt it was a waste of police resources but it ceratinly was good for publicity.
I was a walker. I was mainly concerned with a lone female police officer that was both inadequately dressed (shoes, water) for the conditions and was isolated and therefore vunerable to a public incident unrelated to our walk. Heath and safety/risk assessment should not have permitted this.
The police presence was excessive but I was not intimidated just treated them like a mosquito. I enjoyed the walk and made friends with my lady officer (her textile me naturist)and felt it was a waste of police resources but it ceratinly was good for publicity.Quote | Report this postPosted by: Perry, Fowlmere on 8:41pm Tue 5 Jun 07
I was on the naked walk. There were 15 of us who started the walk and 8 finished, at times accompanied by six police officers. They asked any approaching ramblers if they would be offended by our nudity. Police bringing up the rear then quizzed those same ramblers recording their views on video. Wherever a road came down to the path there were more police with squad cars and "paddy" wagons to take us away, ha ha. Can any one think of any other occasion where the police are so active in anticipating and preventing a potential "crime" from being committed? It was almost inciteful and pretty insulting to my colleagues and I who were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society. I'm glad I'm not a council tax payer in Purbeck!
I was on the naked walk. There were 15 of us who started the walk and 8 finished, at times accompanied by six police officers. They asked any approaching ramblers if they would be offended by our nudity. Police bringing up the rear then quizzed those same ramblers recording their views on video. Wherever a road came down to the path there were more police with squad cars and "paddy" wagons to take us away, ha ha. Can any one think of any other occasion where the police are so active in anticipating and preventing a potential "crime" from being committed? It was almost inciteful and pretty insulting to my colleagues and I who were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society. I'm glad I'm not a council tax payer in Purbeck!Quote | Report this postPosted by: Perry, Fowlmere on 8:42pm Tue 5 Jun 07
I was on the naked walk. There were 15 of us who started the walk and 8 finished, at times accompanied by six police officers. They asked any approaching ramblers if they would be offended by our nudity. Police bringing up the rear then quizzed those same ramblers recording their views on video. Wherever a road came down to the path there were more police with squad cars and "paddy" wagons to take us away, ha ha. Can any one think of any other occasion where the police are so active in anticipating and preventing a potential "crime" from being committed? It was almost inciteful and pretty insulting to my colleagues and I who were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society. I'm glad I'm not a council tax payer in Purbeck!
I was on the naked walk. There were 15 of us who started the walk and 8 finished, at times accompanied by six police officers. They asked any approaching ramblers if they would be offended by our nudity. Police bringing up the rear then quizzed those same ramblers recording their views on video. Wherever a road came down to the path there were more police with squad cars and "paddy" wagons to take us away, ha ha. Can any one think of any other occasion where the police are so active in anticipating and preventing a potential "crime" from being committed? It was almost inciteful and pretty insulting to my colleagues and I who were raising money for the Marine Conservation Society. I'm glad I'm not a council tax payer in Purbeck!Quote | Report this postAdd your commentPlease note: to publish your comment you must be registered on this site. If you are already registered, please enter your details below.
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