Temperatures are sizzling across the country this week. The bright sunshine will definitely have us wanting to spend our time outdoors, but we need to make sure we're keeping hydrated.
With both NHS and the Met Office having issued health warnings over the heatwave, it goes without saying that we need to drink loads of water whether we're indoors or outside.
The only issue with drinking huge quantities of water is when nature comes calling. If we're at home, quick trips to the loo are no problem at all.
But what if you're enjoying a picnic in the park with your family and hit you're with an urge to wee? Here's what you need to know about peeing in public in the UK.
Is it illegal to wee in public in the UK?
There is no general law making it illegal to urinate in public in the UK.
However, there a number of ways in which you could be found guilty for taking an emergency toilet break in public.
What happens if you're caught weeing in public?
Penalties for public urination is usually laid out in the by-laws of individual local authorities under section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972.
Penalty Notice for Disorder
If you're caught going for a wee in public, you're likely to receive a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.
These notices are used by law enforcement to deal with low level, anti-social and nuisance behaviour. People who receive a PND will be fined £50 or £80, which they will have to pay within 21 days of receiving the notice.
Indecent exposure
By weeing in public, you could be committing indecent exposure under the Sexual Offences Act of 2003, depending on where you're doing it.
Indecent exposure is where you display a part of yourself in a public place that is considered as being offensive or morally unacceptable.
If you're caught committing indecent exposure you can face punishment ranging from a fine to a maximum of two years imprisonment.
Outraging public decency
You might be arrested for 'outraging public decency' under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
This is when a "plainly indecent" act is carried out in public in front of two or more people - regardless of whether these people saw it or were bothered by it.
For something to be considered an of outraging public decency:
- You must carried out an act of lewd, obscene or of disgusting character, which outrages minimum standards of public decency as assessed by the jury.
- The act must take place in a public place, or a place which is accessible or within view of the public.
This offence could result in an unlimited fine or a prison term, however, prosecutions for it are rare.
The last time a case of outraging public decency was brought to court was in 1989 when an artist displayed earrings made of human foetuses, which ended with a £500 fine for the artist.
