Naked rambler case is dropped
12:28pm Sunday 28th October 2007
Comments (22)A NAKED rambler has been cleared of causing distress to a fellow cliff-top walker after his case was thrown out of court.
A Weymouth judge ruled there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute naturist Bernard Vivian Boase, following his arrest in June.
Mr Boase, 63, was one of a group of 20 male nudists who stripped off for a summer cliff-top walk for charity.
The group hiked the Jurassic Coast path wearing just rucksacks and hiking boots.
Their naked ramble sparked a major police operation - a helicopter tracked the walkers' progress and around 10 uniformed officers saw the group off from Swanage.
Police arrested Mr Boase, a member of Naturists UK, on suspicion of breaching sections five and six of the Public Order Act 1986.
The Kingston Upon Thames resident - who did not appear at Weymouth Magistrates Court - was accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.
Officers said it was for his refusal to clothe himself when told to do so.
Being naked is not an offence in itself, but causing alarm by being unclothed is in breach of the public order act 1986.
Your Say YourThisisdorset
Veritarts, here says...
2:06pm Sun 28 Oct 07
Apparently the witness statements were very revealing and exposed a lot about the mentaility of middle England:-)
jessicahere, New Yirk says...
3:42pm Sun 28 Oct 07
I always share my nude experience and ideas on http://nudistconnect
.com
Pete Knight, Midlands says...
3:55pm Sun 28 Oct 07
At least the judge had some sense.
Judge Jeffrey, Bloody Arsides says...
5:50pm Sun 28 Oct 07
"A Weymouth judge ruled there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute"
(1) Since when has Weymouth had a judge?
(2) With 20 uniformed officers AND a police helicopter, WHY did this case go to court without enough evidence?
ANOTHER QUOTE FROM THE STORY :-
"The Kingston Upon Thames resident - who did not appear at Weymouth Magistrates Court ....."
(3) If Mr Boase failed to appear in court, was this because
(a) he was told there was no case to answer (so why bring the case) OR
(b) he is in contempt of court for failing to appear.
It would be intersting to get to the BOTTOM of this, if anyone can come up with a REVEALING answer and EXPOSE the ****-UP !
Judge Jeffrey, Bloody Arsides says...
5:56pm Sun 28 Oct 07
REPLACE
"and EXPOSE the ****-UP !"
WITH
"and EXPOSE the male eqivalent oh a hen "
Dixon of Dock Green, Evening, all, lets not upset the chief constable, ELLO,ELLO,ELLO, wot 'ave we got 'ere says...
8:14pm Sun 28 Oct 07
"There was lots of monkey business in Seend, near Devizes, on Saturday afternoon as members of the campaign group Fathers4Justice lobbied the home of High Court Judge, Sir Mathew Thorpe.
Ten uniformed police officers, including a dog team, protected Sir Mathew's home, Beech House, from 15 protesters, many of them dressed in monkey suits, carrying placards saying "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil".
At least they did't deploy a helicopter !!
So glad Wiltshire police are fighting REAL CRIME in the same way as the Dorset police !!
(P.S. Sir Mathew was actually not at home ! )
Richard, UK says...
8:45pm Sun 28 Oct 07
Isn't it about time that police wasting police time (and our money) was made a criminal offence?
Richard
Grumpy, wyke says...
8:25am Mon 29 Oct 07
Jac, Weymouth says...
8:55am Mon 29 Oct 07
The ReV, Erith/Weymouth says...
9:29am Mon 29 Oct 07
Naked rambling along the coast in October??!
Oh hang on it says Summer but not when, even so I thought our summer was terrible this year so hats (and trousers) off to them!
The ReV, Erith/Weymouth says...
9:29am Mon 29 Oct 07
Naked rambling along the coast in October??!
Oh hang on it says Summer but not when, even so I thought our summer was terrible this year so hats (and trousers) off to them!
Chris Lamb, says...
11:47am Mon 29 Oct 07
Most people are mature enough to realise that seeing people enjoying the seaside and countryside in their natural state is nothing to be dismayed about. There's always a few who indulge in childish innuendoes and sniggering, but the vast majority are sensible and tolerant.
Mick the ExPat, Navarre Florida Ex Dorchester says...
2:30pm Mon 29 Oct 07
Naked now, on a cliff top says...
2:37pm Mon 29 Oct 07
BernardUK, Kingston upon Thames says...
3:44pm Mon 29 Oct 07
The police had been advised of our intention to walk nude for charity mainly so that, should any other member of the public have phoned them a report, they would be able to reassure them that peaceful nudity is not illegal.
However the police decided to mount "Operation Thistle" which caused far more distress to us than we caused to others, and I would urge the Echo to obtain the costs of that useless waste of resources under the Freedom of Information Act for the interest of Dorset taxpayers. One of the walkers has filed a formal complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, and I intend to do likewise.
Since the police prevented my completing the sponsored distance on that day, three of us walked the remainder on 23 August, again in perfect weather, without knowledge of the police, without complaint and largely without clothes.
The MCS were supportive all along and extremely grateful for the money we raised (see http://www.mcsuk.org
).
free wessex, Dorset says...
6:32pm Mon 29 Oct 07
Tig, Poole, Dorset says...
8:36am Tue 30 Oct 07
Pete Knight, at home! says...
10:58am Wed 31 Oct 07
Would the Echo like to follow up this story by asking the chief constable how the cost of this fiasco can be justified?
Quite right, put them on the spot to explain their actions and justify the ludicrous waste of money. How much did it cost?
Mark, Bournemouth says...
11:33am Thu 1 Nov 07
Moreover, on the day the police were watched by others actively soliciting complaints from walkers. Even with such tactics they were unable to find members of the public willing to testify to alarm and distress at the sight of naked human bodies. No surprises there. The reporter for this new outlet, who presumably draws a salary, should have his or her`wages docked for the number of innacuracies in their poor recording of actual events on the day.
Judge Jeffrey, Bloody Arsides says...
6:38pm Fri 2 Nov 07
Mark wrote:Thankyou Mark, for explaining the police incompetance in this case!
Judge Jeffrey. Mr Bose appeared twice, if I recall, at police stations to answer bail. Then he was told the Crown Prosecution Service had 'decided not to pursue the case' - that is, their chance of securing a conviction in a court were less than 50%. Moreover, on the day the police were watched by others actively soliciting complaints from walkers. Even with such tactics they were unable to find members of the public willing to testify to alarm and distress at the sight of naked human bodies. No surprises there. The reporter for this new outlet, who presumably draws a salary, should have his or her`wages docked for the number of innacuracies in their poor recording of actual events on the day.
Look forward to this rag publishing the cost of "Operation Thistle" as requested by BernardUK.
Also, totally agree with your comment about the "story writer",(A.K.O.repor
ter) sadly empoyed by this rag. Like most of the stories, facts & figures are not checked by them or their editor, so, would you believe the cost (IF reported in this rag) to be true ?
I REST MY CASE
claudia, says...
4:51am Wed 7 Nov 07
quote
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Tig, Poole, Dorset says...
1:37pm Sun 28 Oct 07
Can we assume that drug dealers and burglars were all safely locked up at the time?
"Being naked is not an offence in itself, but causing alarm by being unclothed is...". What kind of nonsense is that? Personally I find the sight of a hugely fat person in swimming attire offensive, so I do hope the police are going to act on that too.
Another example of police chasing a soft target. Had he been a "hard" target you could perhaps understand the police asking him to cover himself up!!!