Municipal police detain undressed woman in Boskovice town square

Municipal police in Boskovice are investigating the case of a 58-year-old woman who, on Friday, July 24, was found sunbathing completely naked in a park near the "Mother with Child" sculpture, and the next day appeared topless on Masaryk Square, right in the middle of the town fair. Municipal police officers responded to both incidents, and on the second occasion the woman was even taken to the station for questioning.

Police are now looking into her mental state, among other things. However, sexologist Pavel Turčan points out that nudity alone doesn't automatically indicate a mental disorder.

An Expert's View

"There are certain public spaces where nudity is considered normal — a sauna, for instance, or designated nudist beaches. But being naked in a public square where people, including children, are typically present is simply out of place. It doesn't fit within society's accepted norms of behaviour and can understandably upset those around," explained sexologist Turčan.

According to him, such behaviour doesn't necessarily point to mental illness. "It could just be a free-spirited person, perhaps someone with exhibitionist tendencies. Only in some cases is nudity actually a symptom of a psychiatric condition or the result of alcohol or other substance use," he added.

What the Law Says

Attorney Dagmar Raupachová notes that public attitudes toward nudity have shifted considerably over the past few decades. "Swimming without a bathing suit was actually illegal before 1983. These puritanical times are long gone, and society has become much more tolerant," the lawyer said.

She explained that sunbathing topless at a lake or pool typically doesn't carry any legal consequences. The situation is different, however, in places where nudity causes public offence — in such cases, a fine for disturbing public order, running into several thousand crowns, may apply.

If police determine that the behaviour amounts to a serious indecent act given the circumstances, it could even be classified as a criminal offense — disorderly conduct, punishable by up to two years in prison. In particularly sensitive cases, such as exposure near schools or playgrounds, charges could potentially escalate to endangering the moral upbringing of minors.

Read also: 8 best swimming spots near Prague: lakes, quarries, and beaches within an hour's drive of the capital

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz