Focus on UK Detecting: "Never Been Bothered by the Law", How to go Nighthawking in Spain,

On a metal detecting forum near you, we see how "law abiding" UK detectorists can be... Forum member KMarsh from NE Derbyshire, S. Yorkshire wrote about his or her artefact hunting escapades in Spain ( Sat Apr 25, 2015 8:30 pm 'Few bits of Gold from recent trip to Spain')

Popped over to one of the Spanish Islands for a few days early April. Found enough Euros for Food and Beer. took the Barrel tumbler to clean em up a bit. Plus these ranging from 9ct to 22ct. 4 silver rings of which 2 were useless after cleaning. Next 2 trips paid for.. All found in the water up to shoulder depth with the Surfmaster Pi. 

Essex's "volunteer FLO" is at it too (alloverover » Sat Apr 25, 2015 8:52 pm):

Good going Kmarsh No problems with the detecting over there then mate ? I,m off to Mallorca this year and was wondering. Been to Minorca before and was told it was a bad idea so dont know whether to take a machine or not maybe its just inland its not allowed, any help appreciated

Words fail me. The FLO should be the one advising finders about the law and how it affects them, not being the one who has no idea how to avoid breaking it. Roger, have a word with your people. Member Sinclairuser wrote (Sat Apr 25, 2015 9:12 pm )

I allways [sic] understood spain was a no-no, in fact it lead us to change our holiday plans one year, we were going to Catalonia, but we sacked it when we were advised to leave the detectors at home. we went to somerset instead, twice once in may and again in september for the same cost, we have never been abroad since.

 JamieB advises (Sat Apr 25, 2015 11:30 pm) that [there is a]

Blanket ban on detecting in Spain unless you are VERY lucky to get permission from the government So, um, yeah I wouldn't go posting up your finds everywhere .. Seems like if you are in a quiet little spot you might not get noticed or maybe it doesn't matter on the islands?

 So basically he's saying the law was broken, but it's OK M8 if nobody sees. "Kmarsh" replies (Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:48 pm) that he or she was well aware of the law, but permits:

can easily take 3 months to acquire if ya lucky. We have never applied for one, we also go out of season so its usually Late October and early April when the last and first cheap flights are available. Never go during Peak times as I think you could be in bother, unless you detected very early morning and late evening. Plus the flights and accommodation are far dearer.. Never been bothered by the law... 

and then detectorists wonder why other countries do not adopt the British system of doing things. These "law abiding" detectorists cannot be bothered by a law which constrains them from doing what they want, where and when they want. No waiting for "permissions" here, just get out there early in th' morning or at night when nobody's looking, hoik the stuff, destroy half of it in your crude rock tumbler. Who cares eh? No foreign laws are going to spoil these people when they want to enjoy their fun. What kind of "history hunting" is that, what kind of "research" is going on here? Disgusting; these "ambassadors for the hobby" they should be ashamed of themselves.

UPDATE 27th April 2015
Quite coincidentally, David Gill has a post about  'Archaeological looting in Spain', talking of measures adopted to combat archaeological looting of both land and underwater sites, perhaps in order to fight ignorance, UK metal detecting forums need to provide their members with links to articles such as Ignacio Rodríguez Temiño and Antonio Roma Valdés Fighting against the archaeological looting and the illicit trade of antiquities in Spain" for International Journal of Cultural Property 22,1 (2015) 111-30. [Available here].

Vignette: Briton arrested in Spain.