Beach guards alert for litter-louts, yobs… and exposed breasts!

Topless bathers beware: it will not be the police to tell you to cover up, but the new ‘beach supervisors’ unleashed by the Malta Tourism Authority.

The supervisors, some in their early 20s, have been spotted around Malta’s beaches candidly (and politely) asking people, or rather women, with exposed breasts whether they would cover themselves up.

As Malta reels from a court ruling that upheld the censorship of the play Stitching, the conservative backlash now is even being witnessed on the beaches.

Although topless bathing is quite common in Malta, few bathers will have read the criminal code – unless they fail to read the yellow warning signs posted on so many beaches.

The criminal code expressly prohibits people from exposing themselves naked or “indecently dressed in the harbours, on the seashore or in any other public place.”

The MTA supervisors, which may be easily spotted wearing a blue and white uniform on a beach littered with frying bodies, have been sighted in Golden Bay and St George’s bay on different occasions.

However, the precise function of the inspectors remains somewhat unclear – especially since topless sunbathing is not mentioned in the code of conduct they are supposed to uphold.

Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) spokesperson Kevin Drake told MaltaToday that the code of conduct for beach management lays out guidelines for adequate beach behaviour.

The guidelines recommend abstaining from using bad language, courteousness towards other bathers, no loud music, no swimming under the influence of drugs or alcohol, no digging of deep holes in the sand and various measures to protect the environment.

However, amidst all the regulations, there is no specific mention of the prohibition of topless bathing or indecent exposure on beaches.

“The objective of the code of conduct is to ensure a safer and better environment for beach users. Some of the material that is included in the code of conduct has some form of backing through national or bye laws,” Drake said.

And when asked whether the supervisors can tell exposed bathers to cover up, Drake said their role is “primarily, to create a greater awareness among beach users about the code of conduct as well as to ensure that the beach and the facilities are in good condition at all times.”

While it falls squarely upon the police to uphold the provisions of the criminal code, bathers should still be aware that the alert supervisors from the tourism authority will have their eyes wide open.