Council tries to ban nudists from being nudists on semi-nudist beach

A parish council has come under fire for trying to ban naturists from a coastal beauty spot. Officials erected a sign at Corton Beach, near Lowestoft in Suffolk, accusing naturists of ‘lewd behaviour’ and threatening to report them to the police for ‘causing an offence’.

Nude bathing is technically legal in the UK, although it can be a grey area in practice due to laws against indecent exposure. Corton Beach was designated ‘specifically for naturist use’ in the 1970s, establishing it as a popular spot for the community.

This status was revoked in 2009 after erosion of the surrounding coastline reduced the amount of beach space available for ‘regular’ use. The following year East Suffolk Council (then known as Waveney District Council) clarified that nude sunbathing ‘is not an illegal activity’ nor banned at Corton under local bye-laws.

In recent weeks a row has erupted over the sign, which was put up by Corton Parish Council. ‘Warning: Corton beach is not a naturist beach,’ the sign states. ‘Lewd behaviour will not be tolerated and may be recorded by CCTV and reported to the police.

‘Causing an offence to others is a criminal offence and all cases will be reported for prosecution.’. British Naturism’s regional chief, Nigel Newman, turned up at the council’s most recent meeting, accompanied by a police officer, to make the case for the community.

‘To say that Corton beach is not a naturist beach is inaccurate,’ he told The Sunday Times. ‘Corton parish council hasn’t got the authority to state that because it’s enshrined in national legislation that naturism is perfectly lawful.’. The parish council insists that the sign is correctly worded, suggesting it was trying to combat a rise in X-rated activities that fall outside the realm of nude sunbathing and skinny dipping.

It said the sign was put up following ‘many reported incidents’ of ‘lewd behaviour’ and a complaint from a holiday park overlooking the dunes. ‘We are not targeting or trying to outlaw the naturists. The parish council recognises that naturism in the UK is legal,’ a spokesperson told The Times.

British Naturism has responded by accusing the council of misleading people by failing to distinguish naturism from unlawful ‘lewd’ behaviour, which it is ‘absolutely equally committed’ to stamping out. It appears the dispute may shake out in favour of the nudists, as reports suggest the parish council has no jurisdiction over the beach.

A spokesperson for East Suffolk Council said: ‘I can confirm that we have requested removal of a sign placed, without relevant permissions, on a signpost on East Suffolk council land.’. A 2022 Ipsos survey found nearly 7 million people in the UK – roughly 14% of the population – identify as either naturists or nudists.

According to guidelines from the College of Policing ‘naturists have a right to freedom of expression which only engages criminal law if they commit sexual offences or use disorderly behaviour that they intend to or are aware may be disorderly within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress’.

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