Focus on UK Metal Detecting: Criminal Private Collections

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The efforts of Lincolnshire Police to combat heritage crime are being showcased at a Lincoln museum this month (open until December 21).

The exhibition, which is designed to explore heritage crime issues and the way in which Lincolnshire Police tackles them, features a number of display cases and a talking heads video. One of the display cases features items seized in Operation Totem, a joint-agency investigation to tackle illegal metal detecting in the county. PC Nick Hanson said: “Heritage crime is an issue in Lincolnshire and it is vital that we raise awareness. We do successfully investigate and prosecute in this area and we need to get this message across. The pictured artefact, a golden egg-shaped piece, is just one of man beautiful unique Lincolnshire finds that should be in a museum, not in a criminal’s private collection...”.

I suppose one question that arises is does it matter who the owner of the private collection is (criminal, clergyman, drug addict, lawyer) if the object is illicit?  Can someone from PAS or the detecting community, or maybe Lincolnshire police, please explain this? 

Lincolnshire Police news release: 'Heritage Crime Exhibition - Lincoln'