Metal detector. rules regarding finds.

[evedawn]

Does anyone on AB like metal detecting?

I'm thinking of buying one but want to know what the rules are regarding where one may use it?

Council land, open spaces, country parks etc?

What are the rules regarding any finds?

Does anyone have any tips or can you suggest a good model for an amateuer like me?


I'm not sure if this is the right topic so I may list under "law" and "how it works" too.

Thanks in advance all you peeps out there

[Lil O'lady]

Wherever you search you will need the landowner's permission. Technically speaking anything you find is the landowner's property. They may agree, possibly in advance, that you can keep your finds but you need to be mutually clear about this.
If you are searching on a nationally or locally listed monument eg a battlefield or a Roman fort, you will need permission from English Heritage as well as the landowner. If you make contact with your local museum they may be able to put you in touch with a group who will help you make a good start and avoid the pitfalls.
Digging for objects is hard work, even in a recently ploughed field, so why not start of on a beach? Permission can be very easy to obtain (mostly nobody's bothered) but as well as having easier digging it is where eople drop money and jewellery. And sometimes rare archaeological artefacts turn up on beaches. Oh, and mines. Seriously.

If you find archaeological material you must report it correctly, hence your need to link in with a group from a museum who will help you do this.

Enjoy - but avoid the mines.

[voltr4m4x]

There is a "rider" to the previous post.

Any finds you may have must be reported to HM Coroner for the district in which the find is made. Your failure to do this renders you liable to a penalty in criminal law.

[evedawn]

okay - thanks to both of you! Your info has been alot of help :-)

I am very keen to get started - something I have been thinking about for years.

Will contact the musuem most local to me to see if there's a group i could join.

any idea what is a good (and relatively inexpensive) make and model. Ebay has lots listed and i'm not sure which to bid on.

[heathfield]

Simply, join a club in your local area - if it's being run properly they should have all the answers and keep you right. This will also bring you their insurance cover - e.g. if you leave a farmer's gate open, and his livestock get out, it could cost you! The club secretary is perhaps more likely to get landowner permissions than you might as an individual.

[evedawn]

Ta heathfiled - i've just googled and found a club not too far away. will email em to find out about joining etc