Night metal detectors 'looting Britain'
By Jasper Copping, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 11:36pm BST 07/07/2007
Archaelogists have warned that Britain's historical artefacts are being looted by unscrupulous metal detector enthusiasts.
They believe "nighthawking" - illegal searches at protected historical sites, the removal of items without permission from landowners or the failure to declare valuable finds - is being fuelled by the internet, which allows criminals to make thousands of pounds selling jewellery and ancient coins.
The level of new housing developments in the south-east could also be fuelling the practice by providing a rising number of potentially lucrative locations where topsoil has already been removed.
English Heritage and the British Museum are so alarmed they have commissioned a �100,000 study into the practice. It could lead to new legislation to combat offenders.
Roger Bland, of the British Museum, said: "We know it's going on because we find the evidence - holes dug in the middle of fields."
There are an estimated 30,000 metal detecting enthusiasts in Britain. Peter Welch, founder of Weekend Wanderers Metal Detecting UK, said that most were law abiding.
But he added: "There's no doubt there are nighthawkers about, although I would have thought any further legislation is only likely to impact on the law-abiding. What is needed is to inform people about the laws."
