Beach detecting

[Gary63]

Hi all new to the forum, I was wondering are there any beaches where you can't metal detect on the Kent, Essex, Suffolk shore lines apart from the obvious milatry sites , many thanks

[Tascio]

As far as I know there aren't any beaches in those places you can't detect on, but you are absolutely right to be avoiding anything close to military installations!

[Gary63]

Thanks for the reply, puts your mind at rest🙂

[Tascio]

Good luck! May the finds be with you!

Let us know how you get on when you get out there!

[bob-seadart]

Law of the beach/sea areas.

It may be of interest to detectorists on beaches and in the sea.

This is for mostly tourist beaches.

Local authorities, National Trust, British Heritage, etc will  be responsible for areas down to the normal high water mark.
You may need a permit/licence to metal detect these areas. Permits can usually be obtained through local council offices or tourist information offices.
In the summer season you will most probably be restricted, metal detecting will only be allowed between 6 pm to 9 am the following day.
This is known as the dry sand area, under normal conditions the tide will not come any higher.

Wet sand detecting.

This area comes under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) its jurisdiction is the high water mark to 12 miles out to sea. (UK's territorial waters).
There is no restriction on metal detecting this area (24/7) also no permission is required. (wet sand) Obviously further out to sea shipwrecks etc are a different kettle of fish and would involve divers etc.
Under the law, all finds should be reported to the Receiver of Wreck (ROW) which is part of the MCA.
Unless you find something of historical value the ROW will not be interested, so the £1.50 in loose change and 20 ring pulls are safe to keep.

The more valuable items such as rings, watches, jewellery etc is down to the finder to try and find the owner.
Unless it is a recent loss the chances of finding the owner are pretty slim. You could make enquiries with the local authorities at least you made an effort to find the owner.
Do not hand it over as lost property, just say you are going to report the find to the Receiver of Wreck as it was found on the wet sand.

If by chance you report it to the ROW the routine is:- they (ROW) will tell you to keep it for safe keeping until they find the owner.
If after a year and a day the owner has not been found the item now becomes the property of the Crown.
ROW will now give you legal possession of said item as a salvage award.
This will be confirmed in writing, so now you are the proud owner of the recovered item.
The above post is the basic rules for beach detecting.
See links below for the full version from Gov UK.


Link.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency
Salvage form link.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-a-wreck-or-salvage-form-msf-6200