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Despite being one of the East Yorkshire coast’s most popular picturesque beaches telling someone you are heading to Fraisthorpe will still produces a wry smile.

Today the beach is full of families and a popular spot to visit in summer.

But for 30 years it was officially a naturist beach where you could go and strip bare without a care in the world.

But that all changed in the late 1990s.

We have taken a look back at this beauty spot’s chequered history.

About Fraisthorpe beach

Fraisthorpe is located about two miles south of Bridlington's main beach with golden sands and shallow waters which are perfect for bathing.

You can walk right along Fraisthorpe to Bridlington when the tide is not high and you can also explore remains of the Second World War defences.

The beach is backed by low clay cliffs and as you head north of the beach there are some spectacular views and clifftop scenery.

There is parking available at Auburn Farm.

Naturist history

Fraisthorpe has been popular with naturists for the best part of 50 years.

The beach was officially designated as a naturist area in 1980 by the then East Yorkshire Borough Council in what was deemed a progressive move.

However, the rise of dogging – having sex in a public place – and reports of deviant behaviour prompted the council to rescind the designation in the later 1990s.

Signs were put up warning people it was no longer designated as a naturist beach and warning those committing acts of indecency would be punished.

Battle over Fraisthorpe

A battle ensued between the authorities and naturist groups, such as Fraisthorpe United Naturists, over the right to bare on the beach.

In July 2003 Humberside Police even employed its helicopter to clampdown on naturists using the beach and officers swarmed the beach taking the names and addresses of all beach users.

At the time John Wymark-Hoar, from Ryedale Naturist Club, said: "Their behaviour was not only illegal but intimidating to the 200 or so beach users present that weekend.

“Those people had gradually built up the confidence to ignore the notices put up by the council, only to have their day spoiled and an understandable wariness renewed."

(Image: Getty Images)

The legality of the nudity prohibition was challenged in 2004 by members of Ryedale Naturist Club.

That year a club member recounted: "Fraisthorpe beach looks to be back in the naturist domain, the signs have all gone.

"A group from Rydale club, having a barbecue on the beach, were approached by the coastguard and told they were not allowed to be naked there; they asked why, and said that they couldn't stop them.

"The coastguard contacted his superior, who said they were correct and that they were not doing anything against the law. It was soon after this that the signs were removed."

Fraisthorpe United Naturists complained to East Riding Council that the wording of the signs was insulting and intentionally links naturism with indecency. These particular signs were removed.

Further crackdown

There was a further backlash over naturists using the beach in 2006 when a woman complained to Humberside Police claiming she was approached by a naked man at Fraisthorpe.

She said she felt threatened and harassed by this and indicated she would start a petition to prohibit nudity on the beach.

Over the next few years, police and the authorities undertook visible patrols and crackdowns became a regular occurrence.

Many beach users and the nearby farmer felt behaviour had gone beyond simple naturism with reports of deviant behaviour and dogging.

What is the situation now?

Controversy over the naturist dispute seems to have waned and a calm status quo seems to have descended.

The beach is still sporadically used by naturists but the issues over deviant behaviour and dogging seem to have faded.

Even for many naturist groups, the beach does not appear to be on the radar so much.

But in a letter sent to nudistuk.com in 2018 one naturist claimed police are still touring the beach and taking names and addresses of those found nude.

The letter suggested gay man were being targeted and the writer said: “All people have a right to pursue their hobbies, life choices, providing that these are within the law.

“We must try and do something to reverse this situation. I believe that the council are persecuting all male nudists because of a small minority of gay men that have abused the use of that beach.

“I have been using this beach as a nudist for more than 30 years. I drive 156 miles to use that beach and I do not want to lose the enjoyment I get from being nude with my fellow nudists at Fraisthorpe beach.

“Is there a chance we could start some form of action on Bridlington Council to have this ghastly action by the council stopped. If we can let’s get going on this problem. I for one would be willing to help out in any way I can.”

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However, any enforcement around indecency on the beach is not the domain of Bridlington Town Council.

In fact, the beach is no longer run by East Riding Council either.

It had been tenured by the local authority from the Crown Estate but Fraisthorpe is now back in the Crown Estate’s hands.

Nudistuk.com said: “The council explained to us that they had had tenure of the beach at Fraisthorpe but had 'handed it back' to a company called Carter Jonas, who are a land management company for on and behalf of the Crown Estate.

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“The good people at Barmston and Fraisthorpe Parish Council said that Fraisthorpe had been a nudist beach since the 70s but because of disturbances from young people on bikes, people ogling, and complaints it was decided to stop naturists using the beach sometime around 2009 so it is definitely not a designated nudist beach official or otherwise.

“They said there may be confusion because the warning signs that prohibited naturism were continually being washed away.”

What is the law on naturism?

Naturism is used to describe the activities of persons for whom nudity is a part of their lifestyle.

In the case of naturism a balance needs to be struck between the naturist's right to freedom of expression and the right of the wider public to be protected from harassment, alarm and distress.

Naturism is lawful in the UK and only becomes an offence if the behaviour in going nude is likely to cause “alarm, harassment or distress”.

In the absence of any sexual context and where the person has no intention to cause alarm or distress it will normally be appropriate to take no action.

Therefore, sunbathing naked on a beach is less likely to be an offence than someone walking down a busy high street nude.

A public order offence will only be relevant if the nude person is also using threatening or abusive words or disorderly behaviour in the presence of someone else.

An offence of indecent exposure requires a person to intentionally expose their genitals and intend that someone will see them and be caused alarm or distress.

A naturist whose intention is limited to going about his or her lawful business naked will not be guilty of this offence.

To commit an act of outraging public decency would require a public act of a lewd, obscene or disgusting nature.

Although this may be widely interpreted, most cases will involve indecent exposure of the human body. Committing such an offence is likely to involve carrying out a sex act in public.

Similarly, a naturist going about their normal business would not constitute a public nuisance offence.

However, naked rambler Stephen Gough has been arrested numerous times while walking across the country nude, mainly for public order offences and court breaches.