Police in Wiltshire have asked asked anyone who saw a man cycling round Devizes wearing nothing other than a tartan cap and rucksack to get in touch.
The man, described as aged in his late 20s or early 30s, was spotted riding along Quakers Walk from the direction of Roundway Gardens between 4.50 and 5.20pm last Tuesday 13 June.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “Whilst we understand that temperatures this week have been high, it is obviously not acceptable to remove all clothing whilst in a public place as this constitutes the offence of ‘outraging public decency’.
“Devizes Community Policing team are currently investigating this incident and would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this male in the Devizes area.
“Please contact the police non-emergency number on 101, quoting reference number 54170052961, alternatively you can report anonymously by calling Crimestoppers 0800 555 111, where details may be left, if you prefer.”
Despite the witness appeal, it’s possible the man may not have been committing an offence at all.
As the organisers of the World Naked Bike Ride in London last weekend pointed out, “contrary to popular belief, since the Sexual Offences Act 2003, in England nakedness is not illegal unless you are doing it intending to alarm or distress someone.”
22 thoughts on “Police seek cyclist who was wearing tartan cap – and nothing else”
I guess you could say he was
I guess you could say he was left to his own Devizes.
As I understand it, it’s is
As I understand it, it’s is quite a grey area, though probably not for someone this young.
ktache wrote:
I hope he sees a doctor soon then.
Tartan caps are an
Tartan caps are an abomination, but I will support anyones rights and freedom to wear one.
I understood it is only an
I understood it is only an offence to be naked in public if someone is offended? (Mind you the person that is outraged about it probably had to put Page 3 of the Sun down to be outraged)
Man of Lard wrote:
Exactly: it’s only an offence if (1) someone complains, and (2) you intend to cause offence.
The police really are a bunch
The police really are a bunch of donkeys wasting their time like this.
Do you think the police would
Do you think the police would double their effort if it was a naked woman?
So if I send the police a
So if I send the police a video of that rider getting out of his home naked with a full face helmet and his bike, together with a placemark, I guess the police will not be able to do nothing as they wouldn’t be able to identify the offender due to the helmet. Or at least that is what happens with close passes…
cyclisto wrote:
Yup:apparently there has to be an independent witness.
cyclisto wrote:
Which helmet?
Dear Wiltshire Police,
Dear Wiltshire Police,
Have you really got the resources to piss around on something like this?
Yours faithfully,
A taxpayer.
Apparently he did have a
Apparently he did have a small sporran, even though it was a warm day….
FFS. Really?
FFS. Really?
all the stuff that appears on this site (and others) pertaining to cyclists being nearly or actually killed and the police do sweet FA even with video evidence. Now some guy decides to do go cycling naked and there’s an effin police appeal about it.
all that guy needs to do is tell dibble that he was nearly twatted by some tit in a car and they’ll suddenly not give a shit
have they really got nothing else to do? Like catch bloody criminals?
Thinking about it, I’m sure
Thinking about it, I’m sure there’s been a story about a naked cyclist in Devizes on here once before; I wonder if it was the same person?
Sun’s out nob out, thats my
Sun’s out nob out, thats my motto!
Donald where’s uuuur
Donald where’s uuuur truuuuuuusers
And your t shirt, vest, socks and pants.
Imagine that the naked
Imagine that the naked cyclist had a near miss incident with a car and reported it. That would confuse the police investigating who has committed a crime?
Seemingly, they would go for the one that gets most column inches (fnar, fnar)
Wiltshire police are
Wiltshire police are definitely wrong; in England and Wales they must prove that public nudity is intended to offend for it to be a crime. In Scotland, it only needs someone to be offended, and apparently cops are very senstive souls.
Sounds like the Wolrd Naked Bike Ride lot need to send a crack squad to Devizes
ahem.
Sure wearing a tartan cap is
Sure wearing a tartan cap is outraging public decency? I wouldn’t want my child exposed to something like that.
Missing person. Biker who
Missing person. Biker who took part in the london naked bike ride has not returned home. Family are extremely worried. Last seen in Devizes. Mid 30’s wearing nothing but a tartan cap.
Define ‘offensive’, it’s
Define ‘offensive’, it’s massively subjective, I’m offended by what many people wear, i don’t go spragging to the police that I’m outraged over what someone is or is not wearing though. The police should mind their own business and deal with issues that are actually harming people.
the ‘Naked Rambler’ Stephen Gough was arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned many times in Scotland (probably in England too) and he eventually went to the court of human rights in Strasbourg. they then basically said he couldn’t walk around with no clothes on, so will continue to be arrested and spend time in prison.
It’s an absolute nonsense that nakedness is seen as sexual or a perversion/offensive, that always says to me it’s the person/s making that correlation have the problem!