THE PSNI has refused to reveal how many people have been reported to the Public Prosecution Service for skinny dipping because it said gathering such information would cost too much.
When officers threatened nude swimmers in north Down with being placed on the sex offenders register, it led to headlines across Britain and Ireland.
The Irish News submitted a Freedom of Information query to the PSNI last month asking for the figures after two men were caught
skinny dipping at Crawfordsburn Country Park and cautioned by police for the offence of indecent exposure.
In a statement at the time , police said they were taking "this kind of behaviour extremely seriously and will be continuing to take action against anyone who decides to do the same".
"You could end up with a criminal record and placed on the sex offender register. Please enjoy the weather but be sensible."
The reaction from police, described by one social networker as "clearly mediaeval", prompted headlines not just in Northern Ireland but elsewhere with the warning being picked up by The Times and The Telegraph newspapers in London and also The Daily Mail.
However, a request by The Irish News for figures on how many people have been cautioned for such action has been refused. The PSNI said it was estimated that "the cost of complying" with the request would exceed the "appropriate costs limit", currently set at £450.
"The information requested is not readily available or easily searched for on our recording system NICHE as skinny dipping is recorded under the offence code of 'indecent exposure'."