The Criminal Law has undergone rapid and repeated change in recent years - there have been more than 40 Criminal Justice Bills, greatly expanded police powers and several thousand new criminal offences since 1997. This almost permanent state of flux has left the public and even some policemen and lawyers confused.

In legal matters ignorance is definitely not bliss and if you are not well-informed more power is placed in the hands of those "in authority".

Unfortunately, the behaviour of the Police and Local Authorities towards naturists does not always reflect the much greater acceptance by the general public of 'coast and countryside' nudity. The purpose of this guide is to make naturists more aware of their rights.

General Principles

English law operates on the premise that you are free to do anything which is not specifically prohibited, but you have to take the consequences of your actions.

Simply being naked in a public place is not an offence in English law.

If you are simply enjoying social and recreational nudity - swimming, sunbathing or walking, on a beach or other open space (including your own garden) and doing so with reasonable consideration for others, you have every reason to defend your right to continue should you be challenged by a police officer or a representative of the landowner or local authority.

In law, there is no difference between "official" and "unofficial" beaches or any other part of the countryside.

However, if public nudity is intended to cause "harassment", "alarm" or "distress", to "insult", or is associated with sexual activity an offence may be being committed.

How your behaviour is interpreted is likely to depend not only what you are doing, but also on the circumstances in which you are doing it.

Let's put it this way: