Herts & Essex Metal Detector Club 
Code of Conduct
1. Do Not Trespass. You must obtain permission from the Land Owner before venturing on to any Land.
2. Respect the Country Code. Do Not leave gates open, damage crops or frighten animals.
3. Help keep Britain tidy. Dispose of refuse you come across.
4. Do Not leave a mess or an unsafe surface. It is simple enough to extract an object from the ground,
without digging a great big hole. Use a suitable digging implement to cut a neat flap, extract the item,
reinstate the grass or soil carefully.
5. If you discover any Live Ammunition, Bomb or Mine DO NOT DISTURB it. Mark the area and report it
to other Detectorists in the area, the Police and the Landowner. The site must then be vacated.
6. If you discover any unusual historical finds, you must report them to the Landowner. It is our clubs
policy to also report them to the VRPA (Voluntary Reporting of Portable Antiquities), therefore you
should aquaint yourself with this. (Copy available on request).
7. You should aquaint yourself with the Treasure Act 1996 and it's associated Code of Practise, and
make sure you understand your responsibilities. (Copy available on request).
8. It is Illegal for anybody to use a Metal Detector on a protected area such as; Archaeological Site,
Ministry of Defence property, Ancient Monument, without the appropriate permissions. Definitions
of a protected area/place can be found in the Ancient Monuments & Archaeological Areas Act 1979.
(Copy available on request)
9. Please remember that when you are out with your Metal Detector, you are an Ambassador for our
hobby. Do nothing that might give it a bad name. Explain your hobby to all that ask about it.
10.Help yourself & your fellow detectorists, remove all Junk/Iron/Bottle tops etc. and put them in a bin.