The European Council for Metal Detecting (a British inspired organisation formed to persuade Europe to adopt Britain’s metaldetecting regime) has just taken on a new member, ”Pro Detectie” from Romania. It’s bizarre, to say the least, given that Romania’s law says:
> All finds older than 100 years are to be surrendered to the relevant authorities within 72 hours.
> Selling a find is a crime and it is punished by prison time.
We can very safely assume that no British detectorists would countenance the adoption of such a responsible, heritage friendly policy.
So the question arises, how will the European Council for Metal Detecting integrate their new Romanian members? Will it lobby for Romania to abandon its protection regime (which will be impossible) or for Britain to adopt the Romanian system (which will also be impossible)?
The suspicion must arise that the European Council for Metal Detecting is a blowhard organisation that can’t achieve it’s aims.
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The Heritage Journal 
4 comments
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02/12/2017 at 13:27
Paul Barford (@PortantIssues)
More to the point, if a Romanian member fails to adhere to the law, that is simply pockets the artefacts like the British ones do, will they be expelled from the ECMD as involved in illegal metal detecting? Does the Council have an ethics committee ensuring all members are suitable advocates for the hobby and abide by the law?
02/12/2017 at 20:28
Sherlock Holmes
So, every British Detectorist BAD Heritage Action GOOD. You might get taken more seriously if you engaged in proper balanced discussions instead of biased scaremongering. Until then you’ll remain a small fringe group full of its own importance.
02/12/2017 at 23:30
Paul Barford (@PortantIssues)
Eh? You did notice the word “Romanian” in the above, did you?
What is your idea of “balanced discussion” in fact? A question was asked about an international group (European Council for Metal Detecting) and how it would integrate members from different countries where the laws governing the hobby differ. You might like to explain how raising that question is “unbalanced”. Or are we to assume that in your opinion, “balance” can only be achieved by totally ignoring the difficult questions? If that is the case, do you mean “balanced” or simply “superficial”? But we have had enough of “superficial”, let’s get to grip with real issues.
03/12/2017 at 08:09
heritageaction
I take it by “proper balanced discussion” you mean we should pretend most detectorists behave? Sorry, computer says utter nonsense.