Quartet arrested for using metal detecting gear at scheduled ancient monument site
Four men have been arrested after being found at a scheduled ancient monument with metal detecting equipment.
The four men, aged 23, 24, 25 and 37 years, were discovered and arrested at the site in Mid Suffolk which is protected.
Metal detecting on sites scheduled as ancient monuments is illegal without permission from the secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The men were spotted at 10.15pm on Wednesday, October 12, and subsequently arrested on suspicion of using a metal detector on a site scheduled as an ancient monument, contrary to Section 42 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act.
The group was also found in possession of items suspected to have been from the site and arrested on suspicion of removing an object of archaeological and historical interest from a scheduled monument
The men were also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and going equipped for theft.
They were all were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, before being released under investigation while enquiries continue.
Sergeant Brian Calver, of Suffolk Constabulary’s Rural, Wildlife and Heritage Policing team, said: “We take heritage crime incredibly seriously. Those responsible are stealing our heritage, our historical knowledge and once it is gone it is often gone forever. So please, if you do see anything or suspect anything is taking place, please report it to us straight away.
“If you see a crime in progress please call 999 so we can attend as soon as possible. If you know your land is being targeted by night hawkers, do let us know, so we can proactively target this criminality.”
Anyone with information about this or similar incidents is asked to contact Suffolk police, quoting reference: 37/65490/22 or the website www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/existing-report-update email rwp@suffolk.police.uk call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org