Police happy with ‘nude’ shows

Press, 29 March 1980, Page 2

Police happy with ‘nude’ shows

The Christchurch police Lave decided that there are] no grounds for an indecency! prosecution over the stage] show, “The Further Confes-' cions of a Window Cleaner.”] Two policemen attended Thursday evening’s perform-, ance of the show, which con-i tains nudity, in Christchurch.] The-head of the Christchurch Police District (Assistant Deputy Commissioner G. E.j Twentyman) said the decision had also been made after close examination of recent Supreme Court decisions. The Christchurch view concurs with decisions made by the: police in Auckland and Wellington who also attended the show when it was performed in those cities. Mr Twentyman said there were also nd grounds for prosecution over the show, “Statements;” which is ' also playing in Christchurch and contains- 1 nudity. Both shoves had attracted a lot of comment and objection, he said.

In determining whether to (prosecute, the police had to ! decide what “present day I standards” of indecency were jas interpreted by the Courts, I Mr Twentyman said. “The courts have clearly expressed the view that nudlity itself is not of itself in--1 decent because, if it were, those visiting.a nudist colony would create a situation 'where offences would be (committed. “People must be offended [by the nudity and this offence could occur if a person :was to walk nude across the Square in Christchurch or run across a cricket pitch,” 'he said. ; “In these cases.it is fairly jclear that the general public ;could be offended, but the 'theme changes when nudity is displayed in a stage show ;or a striptease show where (people knowing that this is ito ‘occur, pay to attend the show. “The courts have said that [whether there is indecency [must always be judged in the | light of the time, place and

circumstances,” Mr Twentyman said. He said “The Further Con-: fessions of a Window Cleaner” was “humorous, farcical. and contained a type of] double entendre which is on I a level seen on many tele-! [vision shows.” i There were “fleeting very 'suggestive actions,” but in [the context of the play they ’were not “overly prominent.” : Mr Twentyman said ■“Statements’’ was considered ito be a serious work, “preisented in an unusual but not- : indecent way.” I He said it was obvious from attendances . at. the ■ shows and strong objections 'against them that society [was “of two minds” over (what was public decency. -This put the police in an un- ' fortunate situation, requiring [them to make a judgment. I “J want to.assure everyone that we have carefully' considered all aspects and most faithfully interpreted the decisions of the courts at arriving at our conclusions.”