KENT POLICE SEIZE MEDIEVAL COINS IN RAID

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V19 2016 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 19, Number 23, June 5, 2016, Article 27

We read a lot about the legal, above-board coin finds discovered by metal-detecting hobbyists throughout England. With the opportunity to profit legally from their work, there's less incentive to go rogue. While the majority of detectorists are responsible, law-abiding people, there are some who want the whole prize for themselves. David Pickup forwarded this article from Kent describing police confiscation of medieval coins in an investigation into illegal metal-detecting operations. Thanks. -Editor

Historical artefacts have been seized from a house in Sittingbourne as part of a Kent Police investigation into illegal metal-detecting.

Medieval coins dating back to the 13th century were among the items found at the property in Chalkwell Road, Sittingbourne, on Wednesday 25 May 2016.

The warrant was the first in Kent to be carried out under Operation Chronos – a national campaign in conjunction with Historic England to tackle the practice of ‘nighthawking’. Enquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this stage.

Inspector Dave Smith of Kent Police’s Rural Task Force said: ‘Nighthawking is where people go onto farmland, archaeological sites and other areas of interest to find and steal coins and other treasure for their historical and financial value.

‘This practice permanently deprives the country of our heritage and is one we are keen to tackle shoulder-to-shoulder with Historic England, whose policing and crime advisor Mark Harrison we have close ties with.

‘Kent Police has joined other forces nationally to have commenced a heritage crime investigation under Operation Chronos, which I hope demonstrates how serious we take the issue.’

The Sittingbourne warrant was one of a number of activities carried out by Kent Police and partner agencies across the county on Wednesday 25 May 2016.

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