𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Sadiq Khan has been accused of failing to protect children from a naked cycling event through the streets of London. The founder of a sexual abuse charity said the London Mayor “could do so much more than he does” to prevent children from being exposed to nudity during the annual World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) in the capital.

Emma Jane Taylor, who set up the Project 90-10 charity, described the event as a legal “grey area”. The WNBR sees people cycling naked — which would typically lead to an arrest — across London in a protest against car culture and oil dependency. Critics have reportedly raised concerns over a lack of participant registration, marshalling along the route and protections to prevent children from being exposed to adult nudity.

Ms Taylor has launched a petition, urging the Government to review the event’s legal and safeguarding position, while also calling on Sir Sadiq to step in.

“The Mayor could do so much more than he does, and he just doesn’t do enough when it comes to protecting children and families and having sensible conversations,” she said, according to reports.

“I’ve contacted his office several times, not once has he engaged in a conversation.”

A spokesman for the Mayor said: “This is an operational policing decision for the Met.”

The WNBR event in London has been taking place since 2004.

Around 1,200 cyclists took part last year, and the next ride is set for June 14.

Organisers say the event is not intended to cause alarm or distress, but to celebrate body positivity.

WMBR said it was aware of the petition set up by Ms Taylor.

“We understand that she is a social media influencer who promotes body fitness and good looks,” it said, according to the Telegraph.

“This is the type of harmful influence that we campaign against in the body positivity theme of WNBR.”

A spokesman added: “Our body positivity/body acceptance theme is all about having a sensible attitude to the human body instead of suffering from the angst of body image and peer pressure for abnormal sexual activity. We all have bodies, we are all different and that’s OK.

“The World Naked Bike Ride is a peaceful, lawful protest that intends to get its messages across by generating public interest. We want other road users and spectators to be pleasantly surprised and take notice. We do not behave badly! There is no ‘grey area’ in terms of the law.”

He added: “No part of our campaign is aimed at children. We do ask that any children on the ride are properly dressed, and supervised by a parent or responsible adult. Many naturist families would be offended if we said their children were not welcome.”