Fuming dad claims he was strip searched by police after enjoying an ice cream

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A fuming dad claims he was strip searched by police for enjoying a family day out.

Radek Kotlarek, 39, who lives in Wales, said he was enjoying a day out at Talacre Beach on the north tip of the coastline for a walk and an ice cream with his wife and teenage son on Sunday.

The IT consultant said he was then arrested by two officers soon after for refusing to identify himself, WalesOnline reports.

He added that he was then taken to a police station in St Asaph, detained for three hours and strip searched.

"I had to strip naked in front of them and put pyjamas on like a criminal," he said. "It felt very humiliating and intimidating."

Mr Kotlarek added that the family headed to the beach for a "mental break" after struggling with lockdown, homeschooling and other personal issues.

"We had personal family problems which we faced in the last months," he said. "They include the very serious illness of my wife's brother and death of close relatives. We were not even able to say goodbye or go and attend the funeral in Poland.

"On Sunday, me, my wife and our older teenage son decided to go for a walk to one of our favourite spots in Wales – to Talacre Beach.

"We needed this. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed a nice and peaceful Sunday afternoon walk. On our way back we crowned the trip with some ice cream and were ready to head off home."

He said officers initially approached the family and asked why they were there before explaining Covid regulations.

After refusing to give his name, Mr Kotlarek was handcuffed and put in a patrol car.

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He claims a sergeant at the station told him he would be strip searched if he refused to identify himself.

Mr Kotlarek added that he was taken to a custody cell. He claims he was told he could not go to the toilet until he had been strip searched. He also said police threatened to cut off his clothes with scissors.

He was later released after officers a vehicle registration check.

Body cam footage revealed Mr Kotlarek being handcuffed before being quizzed at the station.

North Wales Police said its officers had behaved in a "calm and reasonable way".

Chief Superintendent Nigel Harrison, of North Wales Police, said: "The person was spoken to at Talacre Beach as officers reasonably suspected he had committed an offence, which in this case was a breach in Coronavirus regulations.

"The man, who is from the seaside town of Rhos-on-Sea some 22 miles away, was arrested because his details could not be ascertained at the time in order to be reported for the suspected breach.

“The officers behaved in a calm and reasonable way as I would have expected.

“As is always the case, if the individual wishes to query or complain about the way they were treated then of course we will review the full circumstances.”

• Lockdown
• Coronavirus
• Police

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