British Police STOP Another Irresponsible Metal Detecting Hunting Rally

Remember: Wisbridge Farm, Reed, Hertfordshire 

Counting to six,
impossible for some?

It is a sad but indisputable fact that half the population of Britain are below average intelligence and one can presume that among that half are a great number of metal detectorists. So it's obvious that unless you produce something in a comic-book format in Simple English, it's not going to get through to a lot of metal detectorists (PAS take note). Inevitably therefore some thickoes are not going to make the connection about how relatively simple things like Covid-regulations relate to metal detecting rallies. It's just too complex for some of them to grasp. So the police have to intervene (The Pipeline: 'Pink Wellies get the Boot. Hertfordshire Police cite Covid-19 regulations as they intervene to prevent metal detecting rally', October 3, 2020). Reportedly, Hertfordshire Police were responding to public complaints about the event.

Hertfordshire Police have intervened to prevent a metal detecting rally going ahead on Sunday [4 October 2020] allegedly in breach of Covid-19 regulations. The rally, which was promoted by an informally organised metal detecting group called “Pink Wellies”, was due to take place on the same farm where the group organised an identical event which was closed down by the police last Sunday [27 September 2020] on the same grounds. An e-mail sent by Hertfordshire Police to Pink Wellies organiser Zoe Williams, yesterday [Friday 2 October 2020] and seen by the Pipe Line, stated that the event advertised by Ms Williams, which was due to take on land belonging to Wisbridge Farm at the village of Reed in Hertfordshire, was not covered by any exemptions included in the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.2) (England) Regulations 2020. The Police noted that, “Under Reg 5 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.2) (England) Regulations 2020, it is illegal for a person to take part in a gathering of more than 6 people unless an exemption applies. The rule of 6 came into effect on 14 September.”

The informal group had claimed exemption, on what grounds is unclear, but according to material that Andy Brockman of the Pipeline has seen, the group has been informed that their proposed event is not excepted as they do not hold a licence from a public body to carry on the activity. But oh dear, that IQ problem is a stumbling block:

In responses published on social media Ms Williams disagreed strongly with the view of Hertfordshire Police stating that, she believed, the interpretation of the Covid-19 regulations by the Police was not correct and the event was legal, had official permission from North Hertfordshire Council in place and could go ahead.

Duh. She probably voted in favour of Brexit too.

There are reports of other British metal detecting rallies being visited by local police forces, with at least one other event being closed down in recent weeks. Obviously the irresponsible attempts by metal detectorists to run and participate in large commercial rally type events while the Covid-19 pandemic remains uncontrolled bring into question the whole issue of whether in fact the notion of "responsible metal detecting" is anything more than a skin-deep and meaningless label enabling collection-driven exploitation of the archaeological record. 

This is a very public exhibition of total self-centred group irresponsibility and the pig-headed rejection of the notion that any regulations set up by the authorities for everybody's good should affect the "personal freedoms" of a metal detectorist. As The Pipeline reminds us, this is happening at a time when the Government and Historic England are known to be discussing whether the metal detecting should be regulated further in the context of potential revisions to the Treasure Act and Portable Antiquities Scheme.

This is not the first time, either, that the group has been accused of holding an event that is not compliance with good practice (PACHI 6th August 20202 'UK Metal Detecting Rally breaks Covid Regulations') and it is odd that it persists without apparently taking steps to rectify these shortcomings - while representing themselves to their paying clients as being concerned that "the poor perception of detectorists can be changed". Not by words it won't, Wellies, but intelligent and responsible action.