A 56 year-old Mowbray man has been arrested after complaints were made from two teenage girls who said they saw him masturbating near sunbathers on Port Douglas' popular Four Mile Beach last Friday.

Mossman CIB detectives interviewed a number of witnesses including the two girls who took photographs of the man, and surveyed the beach on Tuesday afternoon near the Garrick Street entrance.

The man, whose name has been withheld, was charged with one count of Committing an Indecent Act and will appear in Mossman's Magistrates Court on 24 October. He was released on the condition he was not to go back to Four Mile Beach.

Committing an Indecent Act is an indictable offence under the criminal code and the man faces a sentence, if found guilty, which may include a jail term or health order as part of his rehabilitation.

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Officer In Charge at Mossman CIB, Detective Sergeant Trevor Perham, praised the two girls for their quick thinking.

"The beach was packed with holiday makers over the weekend, and being school holidays there were a lot of people out there and these actions were very offensive.

"These girls did a very good job. Their quick actions resulted in the arrest of this man.

"This incident demonstrates that we're not immune to this type of behaviour that's not acceptable in today's world. Even in Port Douglas these elements creep in from time to time."

Detective Sergeant Perham reminded people who may witness offensive acts such as this to contact Police immediately.