WALKING through the automatic doors into a supermarket, the waft of cool air conditioning hits you.
With temperatures expected to hit a whopping 43C this week, many of us are looking for ways to keep cool.
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But just how much flesh can you have on show in shops during the heatwave? We’ve spoken to experts to explain your rights.
Nobody is going to want to be wearing too much clothing in that kind of heat.
But if you’ve stripped off, you could find yourself butting heads with staff in shops.
We take a look to see what the rules are how much you need to keep covered up.
Is it a crime to show too much flesh in public?
It is not an offence to be naked in public in England and Wales, but it can become one in certain circumstances.
This would apply if a complainant can prove another individual stripped off with the intent to shock or cause upset.
The same rule applies in Scotland, as a member of the public would have to prove they had been put in alarm of distress.
Therefore, it’s quite unlikely that you could be arrested for flashing a bit of flesh in hot weather.
The Crown Prosecution Service has a guide to nudity in public.
“Naturism is used to describe the activities of persons who espouse nudity as part of their lifestyle,” the guidance from the CPS says.
“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.”
Can shops ban me if I’m showing a lot of flesh?
Different shop have their own policies when it comes to what you can wear.
In the past, retailers have banned customers from dressing “inappropriately”.
For example, in 2018, a shop in Shropshire introduced a ban on customers wearing dressing gowns and pyjamas.
That means – in theory – that staff in a shop could ask you to leave based on what you are wearing.
In 2017, Tesco was asked by a raged shopper to ban customers who wear dressing gowns.
At the time a spokesperson said: “Many of our customers have told us that they feel uncomfortable when they see other shoppers wearing unsuitable clothing in our stores and we do try to find a balance that everyone is happy with.
“Although we don’t have a formal dress code in our stores, we rely on our Management Team to use their discretion and common sense.”
Dress codes are not common in shops. However, you may have come across them when trying to enter nightclubs or bars.
What are my rights during a heatwave?
As temperatures soar you should make sure you know your rights so you can keep safe in the high heat.
Workers in offices will be keeping a close eye on the heat to see if they might be able to go home to keep cool.
Unfortunately, there’s no legally defined minimum or maximum temperature for offices or other places of work.
However, employers have to make sure conditions are “reasonable” – but what is reasonable is up to interpretation.
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The Health and Safety Executive has suggested before that workplaces should have a minimum temperature of 16C.
For work that is very physical, for instance factory floors, it suggests a lower minimum of 13C.
What are my rights on public transport?
Transport company sets their own policies – and there’s no law about temperatures during a heatwave.
This can mean that travellers face extremely high temperatures.
For example, in 2018, Londoners complained of 42C temperatures on the Tube – higher than the legal limit for transporting cattle.
Transport for London has said that all Tubes will be air-conditioned by 2030.
Make sure you bring a bottle of water with you when you travel and wear loose and light clothing.
