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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Neil Shaw

Rules on sunbathing topless or naked in your garden

While temperatures start to rise around the country millions will be wanting to get a suntan - but lockdown rules mean you can't leave the confines of your garden just to catch some rays.

The rules also mean you can't go to a beauty salon or tanning salon to top up - so when the sun shines people will want to make the most of it

So if you are planning to head into the garden, and you want to avoid any tanlines, is it legal to strip off - given that all your neighbours are stuck home too.

The good news is it's not against the law to be naked, or partially naked, in a place where you can be seen - but you have to be discreet.

It's not against British law to be naked in your garden - but it can become one if you cause alarm or distress to others.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service "a balance needs to be struck between the naturist's right to freedom of expression and the right of the wider public to be protected from harassment, alarm and distress".

The police always advise those who do want an all-over tan to be inconspicuous.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said the law was clear on being naked in public.

The spokesman said: "Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, it is not an offence for a person to appear naked in public but it becomes an offence if it can be proved that the person stripped off with the intention to cause distress, alarm or outrage."

Police in Surrey suggested people who want to sunbathe naked inform their neighbours first – after a 'neighbour dispute' broke out over the issue.

If you are going to inform your neighbours - remember to stick to all social distancing rules.

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