25/09/2009 by David.

The latest issue of ‘Naturist Life’ magazine has been posted. On a doormat near you soon.

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22/09/2009 by Suzanne.

Good article

http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/living/features/the-naked-truth

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21/09/2009 by David.

If you want to see how NOT to behave on the plinth take a look at this lady:

http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Naomi_M

Topless pole dancing on the plinth. More interesting than the girl with augmented breasts are the reactions of the people, mostly male, watching her gyrate and wiggle her breasts!

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16/09/2009 by Suzanne.

CCBN AGM ~ use your vote
Suzanne Piper will be attending the CCBN AGM this year. Very few people actually exercise their vote because they cannot get to AGM and do not know anyone to be their proxy. I am willing to hold your proxy vote/s this year.
In order to represent you I must have your fully completed proxy forms with me by October 7th at the latest so that I can send them to CCBN by special delivery to arrive by October 9th. You can tell me how to vote on all motions, or leave it to my discretion, but I would like to vote in favour of postal voting which means that in future you will be able to vote directly.
Forms to me please at 49A Spielplatz, Lye Lane, Bricket Wood, St Albans AL2 3TD. If you have any queries at all do please call me on 020 3239 9538 as it would be a shame if your vote was lost because you failed to complete the forms correctly.
Suzanne Piper

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15/09/2009 by Suzanne.

We have received this email and have been asked to publicise.

Dear Sir/Madam
I am a researcher from ITV and I was hoping you might be able to help me find some nudist couples who are getting married or renewing their vows between now and March 2010 for a UK TV Show called “Four Weddings”.

Below is a synopsis of the show:
We are casting for a second series of the hit TV show for LIVING, called “Four Weddings”. We are looking for more brides-to-be to attend and score each others big days, scoring the venue, the dress, the food and the overall presentation. The scores are not disclosed amongst the other brides until after all the weddings when it will be revealed whose wedding has been judged the best! The winning bride will win a LUXURY Honeymoon!
We want to include a nudist wedding because the British public are one of the most conservative European nations, and nudity is still rather taboo and therefore misunderstood. We would like the opportunity to show nudity as a lifestyle, and something that is not about exhibitionism, but a choice that is no different from wearing biker gear or polo shirts! It will also be a good chance for those who follow the nudist lifestyle to promote its freedom, sense of community and friendship – and where better to do this than at a wedding!
We are looking for UK based nudist couples who are getting married, either in the UK, or abroad (due to the inhospitable English temperatures we understand the practical option of choosing warmer weather over cold English winters), and would be interested in coming on the show. Alternatively, do you know of any locations in the UK/Europe that offer facilities for couples to get married or renew vows in the nude? I would be most grateful for any assistance or advice you could give me!
I have also attached a flyer for the show, and I would really appreciate it if you could talk to and forward this onto any brides who are getting married. If you could post the flyer in your magazine too that would be fantastic!
I understand that this show might not be to every ones taste, but is a fantastically fun show, where viewers really feel part of the special day!
We are very experienced film makers, and as it’s the second series, we are fully aware of how to do the filming respectfully, and we are constantly in communication with the bride, groom, church and venue, so that we are as un-intrusive as possible!
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Many thanks in advance!
Steve Harwood

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03/09/2009 by Suzanne.

An ex det CONSTABLE now Criminologist, expert of on Child protection, TV adviser and also with TV appearances made a complaint about the appearance of a nude man on the plinth citing common law. When the local bobbies did not take action against the nude man he made a complaint to the Met. A a result he got a number of media interviews - was this all a publicity stint by him one must ask?
This from Lady Godiva’s blog re the plinth (Lady Godiva will be on the Plinth 5-6am on 30 September)

Here’s a letter sent to us from the police, along with some ‘official’ bumph on the legality of nudity:

“4Th Plinth - Public Nudity - Incident 12 August 2009

I have seen your report concerning the above incident and am concerned that there continues to be confusion about the legal position concerning public nudity.

I have prepared a separate document highlighting the legal position specifically looking at two pieces of current legislation:

• Common Law - Outraging Public Decency
• Section 66 Sexual Offences Act 2003

Any offence under Common Law must be of a lewd, obscene or disgusting nature. It has been held (by the courts) that the nakedness usually must be accompanied by either masturbation or sexual intercourse.

Section 66 replaces ‘Indecent Exposure with Intent to Insult a Female’ under the Vagrancy Act 1824. To commit an offence under S66 then two elements need to be present - the exposure of sexual organs and, the Intent to cause alarm or distress.

Unless your plinthers intend to cause alarm or distress or their behaviour is accompanied by other overt sexual actions, then they do not commit an offence.

This is a live Art exhibition and you cover this in your briefings with the plinthers. Without some sexual content attached to the nakedness then it is unlikely that any offences are committed. You only need to visit many of London’s art galleries to see numerous examples of the naked body.

However, it has to be judged on a case-by-case basis and my expectation is the officers use the law guide as a starting point rather than an assumption that the activity is unlawful and must be curtailed at the outset.

There have been other incidents of public nakedness within London - naked bike rides and a naked model in Selfridge’s window. The same issues were considered and we took the same view. The challenge is how best to deal with the person making the complaint and managing their expectations.

I have raised the issue internally to hopefully best inform our staff.”

‘Outraging public decency’ is one of very few common law offences remaining in the criminal justice system:

It is an offence to commit an act of a lewd, obscene and disgusting nature, which is capable of outraging public decency, in a public place where at least two members of the public could have witnessed it.

The different elements of the offence can be summarised as:
(a) The act committed must be of a lewd, obscene and disgusting nature (the meanings of these terms overlap); “Lewd” means ‘lustful or indecent’; “Obscene” - means ‘morally repugnant or depraved’ and “Disgusting” - means ‘repugnant or loathsome’.
(cool.gif The act must be capable of outraging public decency.
© More than one person must have been able to witness the act.
(d) Reasonable people must be able to venture out without the risk of outrage to minimum standards of decency, therefore the act must be in a place where there is a real possibility that members of the general public might witness it.

It has been held that, in order to outrage, exposure of the naked body (male or female) must grossly transgress accepted limits of decency and be likely to gravely offend a reasonable person, thus this offence will usually only be suitable if masturbation or sexual intercourse also occurs.

The following act is now obsolete:

Indecent exposure with intent to insult a female - Vagrancy Act 1824

This offence is now OBSOLETE as a consequence of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 now see section 66 of that Act.

Section 66 makes it an offence for a person intentionally to expose his genitals where he intends that someone will see them and be caused alarm or distress. It is not necessary for the defendant’s genitals to have been seen by anyone or for anyone to have been alarmed or distressed. For example, if a person exposes his genitals to some passers-by, he may (depending on his state of mind) commit the offence regardless of whether they actually see his genitals or whether they have been alarmed or distressed by seeing them.
“Genitals” refers to male or female sexual organs.

Note
The offence would not apply to a naturist who intentionally exposes his genitals in the knowledge that they may be seen by others but without the intention to cause alarm or distress. Similarly, it would exclude an exhibitionist streaker at a sports occasion.
This offence can be committed by a male or female against a male or female.

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02/09/2009 by Suzanne.

Travelzest, owner of Peng has had its shares suspended after a shares issue failed to gain the £5.7 million to pay its debts and the cost of closing Holiday Express, another of its companies.

The BBC website reports that “the firm said there was a ‘material risk’ of insolvency.

Travelzest in in talks to find funds to pay £2 million of debt due to be paid in November.

We will try to keep naturists informed of the ongoing situation, but advise you should check your insurance protection.

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