No treasure finds reported in South London

There were no treasure finds reported in South London last year, new figures show (Adam Care, 'No treasure finds reported in South London'  MSN 14 May 2025)

The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show there were no treasure finds declared to coroners in 2024 in South London. There was one the year before.

Shock-horror. And in Bromley, Sonja Tutty, writes ' No treasure discoveries in South London since 2018', London World 16th May 2023,

Detectorists in South London have not reported any treasure discoveries since 2018, new figures show – despite a national increase. Figures from the Ministry of Justice show one treasure find was reported to South London Coroner's Court, which is responsible for holding treasure inquests, in 2018. It is the only recorded discovery in the area in the past decade.

This is despite a national increase in finds in recent years. Across England and Wales, 2022 saw a 20% increase in treasure finds on the year before with 1,087 reported to coroners. It is the highest number of discoveries since records began in 1997.

In London, four treasure finds were reported to coroners' courts last year.[...]
The Ministry of Justice said the number of treasure finds reported steadily increased from 1997 when the Treasure Act was introduced, up to 2017. But since 2018 the number has been "more volatile" and was impacted by Covid-19 restrictions in recent years.

It added: "There has been a big surge in metal detecting activity during (and also since) the pandemic.

There is then something more on the increase in finds:

Keith Westcott, founder of the Institute of Detectorists, said: "It was definitely the lockdown periods that brought the idea and interest of metal detecting to a lot of people who were sat at home, all day indoors thinking of what would give them a reason to get outdoors."

However, Mr Westcott added the growing interest in detecting must also be met with awareness of the hobby's requirements and responsibilities

"Probably as little as 10% of what's found is recorded, so a dramatic improvement in that is needed if interest continues to grow," he said..

"People see these finds as objects of interest, but in reality it is part of an archeologic record of the area it was found in. So there has to be an understanding of the context around whatever is found." 

Such vopices in British metal detecting are rare - despite what starry-eyed supportive arkies will tell you.

hat tip Dave Coward