23rd August 2010, 05:14 PM
I honestly think that the question of whether access to the HER might facilitate heritage crime is a tad overrated.
I know a lot of detectorists (99% of whom I would class as honest) and it always amazes me as to how much they know about the potential of sites not just in there own locality but wider afield. I am sure that this knowledge comes from word of mouth and talking to other detectorists. Because 99% of the detectorists I know are honest this has never occurred to me as a problem.....but I am sure it is also knowledge that is well known amongst the 1% of detectorists who are less than honest. Would restricting information on the HER deter any of this 1% of detectorists - frankly No!! Would restricting information on the HER mean that the 1% of dangerous detectorists wouldn't find out about sites - I think not!! So why hinder the HER by hobbling it when hobbling is of no effective consequence....
I know a lot of detectorists (99% of whom I would class as honest) and it always amazes me as to how much they know about the potential of sites not just in there own locality but wider afield. I am sure that this knowledge comes from word of mouth and talking to other detectorists. Because 99% of the detectorists I know are honest this has never occurred to me as a problem.....but I am sure it is also knowledge that is well known amongst the 1% of detectorists who are less than honest. Would restricting information on the HER deter any of this 1% of detectorists - frankly No!! Would restricting information on the HER mean that the 1% of dangerous detectorists wouldn't find out about sites - I think not!! So why hinder the HER by hobbling it when hobbling is of no effective consequence....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...