A naturist claims he was wrongly arrested and "assaulted" by an off-duty Met Police officer despite "no offences being committed".
Naturists UK founder Richard Collins was minding his own business on a bench in Hastings, East Sussex, when he claims he was "harassed" by the man, who ordered him to get dressed showing him his police ID.
Mr Collins, who is also a British Naturism member, was accused of indecent exposure but later de-arrested when uniformed officers arrived.
Mr Collins, a member of British Naturism and the founder of Naturists UK, was ordered to get dressed and he initially refused to obey the cop's orders, citing College of Policing guidelines.
He said he was arrested under a false allegation of indecent exposure, before being de-arrested when Sussex Police cops arrived.
Mr Collins said the officer was walking past him as he sat on the bench on May 13 before when the cop ordered him to get dressed and then called for backup.
He quoted the College of Policing guidelines on being naked in public, which only deems it a prosecutable offence when the person is intending to cause alarm or distress.
The officer insisted Mr Collins was committing a crime and called 999 claiming nearby children were "distressed" - an allegation the naturist has strongly denied.
Three patrol cars and at least six officers were sent to the scene before the incident was stood down.
"I have sat naked at this location on several occasions over the past fortnight for up to two hours each time without incident," Mr Collins said.
"[The officer] identified himself, showed me his warrant card and alleged I was committing an offence of ‘indecent exposure’ and asked me to get dressed."
The College of Policing guidelines on public nudity state a person should only be arrested where their nudity is "lewd, obscene or disgusting" enough to shock a reasonable person.
"A naturist whose intention is limited to going about their lawful business while naked will not be guilty of either of these sexual offences," the guidelines state.
Mr Collins claimed the officer would not let him leave the area, even grabbing him and breaking his bag strap.
The naturist said the off-duty officer called 999 and added he was being "so unreasonable and aggressive" that he himself then called for emergency services to report being harassed by an off-duty officer.
"As he said Sussex Police were on their way, I turned around to go back to the seat I had been sitting on, but despite saying that was my intention, he repeatedly blocked my path by moving from side-to-side in front of me as I tried to walk around him.”
Mr Collins then got dressed, but the officer still tried to detain him, it was claimed.
"He was again on his phone on a 999 call asking where the police were and even though I was now dressed, claimed the offence of ‘indecent exposure’ was established and said I should remain and answer to this.
"Again I refused and started walking down the steps."
When Sussex Police arrived their officers spoke to the off-duty cop and Mr Collins was de-arrested.
Mr Collins claims a uniformed officer told him the Met Police officer had "misused his powers" and there was a case to report him.
"I'm having unpleasant flashbacks to the situation and feel my confidence has been affected," he said..
"My thanks go to Sussex Police for acting in a professional, unbiased manner and resolving this situation."
Sussex Police confirmed no offences were committed during the incident.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said a formal complaint had been received and is "being assessed".
He added: "On Saturday, May 13, an off-duty MPS officer arrested a man on suspicion of indecent exposure after seeing him naked in Hastings Old Town.
"Sussex Police were called and, after speaking to them, the man was de-arrested. He then went on his way."
