Jewellery Finds - To Hand In, Or Not?

[Indy]

There have recently been a few topics concerning jewellery detected on the beach that attracted many responses before being rightfully locked by Blackadder.

Some finders seem to think that it is the owners fault for taking valuable stuff onto the beach. Several scenarios discredit this idea, here are two examples:

1. A couple taking an evening stroll along the beach see a child in peril in the sea, they run into the sea fully clothed and save the child’s life. Jewellery is lost in the process.
2. A murder victim is disposed of in the sea, in time their jewellery is washed ashore, detected and sold. One item is on the Police Watch List and reported, at dawn one day the detectorist’s front door gets smashed in and they get taken away for questioning.

Anyone detecting legally on the Crown Estate foreshore will have the appropriate Permit. In obtaining this permit they will have agreed to abide by the terms and conditions found at http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/metal-d ... conditions

The first part of Condition 4.3 states that you are required “To report the find of any item of value such as jewellery and coins (excluding individual or small quantities of modern coins) to the Crown Estate and the Police within fourteen days of the date of the find”.

Condition 5 makes it clear that anything found belongs to them. But the last bit of Condition 4.3 says after the sale “Any monies received shall be divided equally between the Crown Estate and the applicant (after deduction of any costs)”.

[Malc]

Well said pinslayer.

[fabio961]

I thought you had to report any rings found to the coroner, and not the police? I reported my silver wedding ring to the police who had no reported lost silver wedding rings, however I did get a report.

They did mention they 'probably had no chance as there is nothing to identify anyone from it'.

As for reporting coins...I doubt that has ever happened. If an important coin came up it would be reported to the FLO....

You found something nice at Southsea at last PinSlayer??

[Indy]

These two scenarios happen so often, I'm glad you mentioned them.

Tut tut Nodeity, you know what they say about sarcasm.

[Indy]

Well said pinslayer.

Thanks Malc.

[stephenbeetleman]

Whether they happen often or not is irrelevant as it is always a mystery as to how an object found gets to its resting place. I know i have found plenty of items and the first question on my mind has been 'how did that get there?'

Yes there is the legal obligation to hand an object of value like that in and if its not claimed it can then legally be yours to keep when the police are satisfied that the owner can't be traced. There is always the aspect of good PR for our hobby in handing in items like this can often give us too which can never be underestimated. Its something though which is a personal decision and inevitably the person that finds it will make their own decision on what to do with it.

Stephen

[Indy]

Strange scenarios you describe, but i suppose they could happen...???
Also, do they provide any description of what they consider the term "item of value" to mean...£10, £50, £500...???
Regards
Dirt-fishing

The two scenarios came off the top of my head to make a point, I expect there are more probable examples.

The question of "value" is an interesting point, I will ask the Crown Estate.

[fabio961]

This thread is obviously aimed at me, which is extremely unfair. I have stated that I should have handed my find in and that next time I will. There's nothing I can do about it now so trying to make me feel guilty about it is pretty disgusting behaviour. If my thread was locked then this one should be too.

I missed your post, what did you do to invoke a response? no idea what you found..

[Indy]

This thread is obviously aimed at me, which is extremely unfair. I have stated that I should have handed my find in and that next time I will. There's nothing I can do about it now so trying to make me feel guilty about it is pretty disgusting behaviour. If my thread was locked then this one should be too.

If I had wanted to give you a hard time I would have responded to your thread, I didn't because you said you would hand in the next find. I also did not intent this thread to be a continuation of your and other locked threads.
My intention was to remind beach detectorist's of the Crown Estate Foreshore detecting Terms and Conditions.
I'm sorry if you think otherwise. If this is going to get out of hand maybe it should be locked.

[Blackadder43]

First of all Nodeity i personaly dont think this thread is aimed at you personaly, in fact the subject is something we are now investigating ourselves.
We are going to have a sticky thread that will advise people what they are legaly bound to do in these circumstances.
How the finder deals with this information is up to him/her, but as a forum we need to be clear.

As for your thread being locked, i stand by my decision.
You were insulting all the people that come to our forums for help when they have lost something, on the beach or anywhere.
We have had a couple of people already use the services of our members to assist in finding something they have lost on the beach..
I also told you in reply to your PM to me that you should take up any grevience you have with me by contacting mrix.

[Indy]

I thought you had to report any rings found to the coroner, and not the police? As for reporting coins...I doubt that has ever happened. If an important coin came up it would be reported to the FLO....

You found something nice at Southsea at last PinSlayer??

T's and C's state archaeological finds to the PAS.
Treasure to the Coroner and evidence this has been done to Crown Estate.
Coins and jewellery as already stated.

What chance do I have at Southsea after you, Dirt-fishing, the SDG and Scoobiedoo were there before me.

[Chopper]

I don't apologise for my opinions, but I will keep them off this forum in future.

To be fair mate, everyone is entitled to their opinion. We as a forum encourage all members to make their voice heard. The problems start to arise when those opinions start to break forum rules. You can have a view without being insulting. It's all about social decorum.

[HalfPint]

I think this link on keeping lost, found and uncollected goods might help clarify things http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/you ... _goods.htm

[custard]

Thanks for starting this thread pinslayer. I didn't contribute to the latest debacle because of all the drama on the other one, but I think this needs saying.

Also glad to see BA's post. There is a clear policy on this forum of not condoning illegal detecting. There is also a stickied thread about getting a Crown Estate permit for beach detecting. The terms and conditions of that permit are also clear and I think this forum needs to respect that too.

If Crown Estate rules are being broken and being seen to be broken, that is not good for our hobby in my opinion. People need to use some common sense here.

Anybody can read this forum, not just members.

[ironjam]

I think this link on keeping lost, found and uncollected goods might help clarify things http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/you ... _goods.htm

Nice link, Ty for that