[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes Dotti, I was just at an idle moment so I thought I would just do a quick search.

I can't imagine any of our local police having time to stop,someone carrying a metal detector.....They should be too busy checking that the recent legislation regarding the micro-chipping of dogs has been carried out in accordance with the law.....and the less recent law of those driving whilst on the phone.

As Jason says, finding the owner of something that has been lying for decades in the soil is not something that they should be worrying about.
If the owner of the field is happy for someone to be doing a bit of prospecting then that should be the end of it....well, unless something of historical interest or value is unearthed and that is fully covered by law.