{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/ancient-monuments-and-archaeological-areas-act-1979/section-42",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/ancient-monuments-and-archaeological-areas-act-1979/section-42.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1979/46",
  "legislation_title": "Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/ancient-monuments-and-archaeological-areas-act-1979",
  "path": "section/42",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "42",
  "heading": "Restrictions on use of metal detectors.",
  "text": "(1) If a person uses a metal detector in a protected place without the written consent of the Commission (in a case of a place situated in England) ... he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction or, in Scotland, on conviction before a court of summary jurisdiction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.\n(2) In this section—\n“metal detector” means any device designed or adapted for detecting or locating any metal or mineral in the ground; and\n“protected place” means any place which is either—\n(a)the site of a scheduled monument or of any monument under the ownership or guardianship of the Secretary of State or the Commission or a local authority by virtue of this Act; or\n(b)situated in an area of archaeological importance.\n(3) If a person without written consent removes any object of archaeological or historical interest which he has discovered by the use of a metal detector in a protected place he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or on conviction on indictment to a fine.\nThe reference in this subsection to written consent is to that of the Commission (where the place in question is situated in England) ...\n(4) A consent granted by ... the Commission for the purposes of this section may be granted either unconditionally or subject to conditions.\n(5) If any person—\n(a) in using a metal detector in a protected place in accordance with any consent granted by ... the Commission for the purposes of this section; or\n(b) in removing or otherwise dealing with any object which he has discovered by the use of a metal detector in a protected place in accordance with any such consent;\nfails to comply with any condition attached to the consent, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable, in a case falling within paragraph (a) above, to the penalty provided by subsection (1) above, and in a case falling within paragraph (b) above, to the penalty provided by subsection (3) above.\n(6) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) above, it shall be a defence for the accused to prove that he used the metal detector for a purpose other than detecting or locating objects of archaeological or historical interest.\n(7) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) or (3) above ..., it shall be a defence for the accused to prove that he had taken all reasonable precautions to find out whether the place where he used the metal detector was a protected place and did not believe that it was.\n(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words substituted by National Heritage Act 1983 (c. 47, SIF 78), s. 41, Sch. 4 para. 60(2)(6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 42(1) omitted (E.W.) (4.11.2024) by virtue of Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (asc 3), s. 212(2), Sch. 13 para. 39(a) (with Sch. 14 paras. 1-3); S.I. 2024/860, art. 3(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words substituted (E.W.) by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), s. 46; and (S.) by virtue of Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), s. 289G (as inserted by Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48), s. 54)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words inserted by National Heritage Act 1983 (c. 47, SIF 78), s. 41, Sch. 4 para. 60(3)(6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words substituted by National Heritage Act 1983 (c. 47, SIF 78), s. 41, Sch. 4 para. 60(4)(6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words inserted by National Heritage Act 1983 (c. 47, SIF 78), s. 41, Sch. 4 para. 60(4)(6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 42(3) omitted (E.W.) (4.11.2024) by virtue of Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (asc 3), s. 212(2), Sch. 13 para. 39(b) (with Sch. 14 paras. 1-3); S.I. 2024/860, art. 3(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 42(4) omitted (E.W.) (4.11.2024) by virtue of Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (asc 3), s. 212(2), Sch. 13 para. 39(c) (with Sch. 14 paras. 1-3); S.I. 2024/860, art. 3(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words inserted by National Heritage Act 1983 (c. 47, SIF 78), s. 41, Sch. 4 para. 60(5)(6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 42(5)(a) omitted (E.W.) (4.11.2024) by virtue of Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (asc 3), s. 212(2), Sch. 13 para. 39(d) (with Sch. 14 paras. 1-3); S.I. 2024/860, art. 3(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in s. 42(7) omitted (E.W.) (4.11.2024) by virtue of Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (asc 3), s. 212(2), Sch. 13 para. 39(e) (with Sch. 14 paras. 1-3); S.I. 2024/860, art. 3(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "S. 42(8) omitted (E.W.) (4.11.2024) by virtue of Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (asc 3), s. 212(2), Sch. 13 para. 39(f) (with Sch. 14 paras. 1-3); S.I. 2024/860, art. 3(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 42(1) excluded (18.12.1996) by 1996 c. 61, s. 12, Sch. 7 para. 4(12)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 42(1) excluded (22.7.2008) by Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18), Sch. 9 para. 4(12)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 42(1) excluded (23.2.2017) by High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act 2017 (c. 7), s. 70(1), Sch. 19 para. 1(12)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "S. 42(1) excluded (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 19 para. 1(12)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "S. 42(3) excluded (18.12.1996) by 1996 c. 61, s. 12, Sch. 7 para. 4(13)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C6",
      "text": "S. 42(3) excluded (22.7.2008) by Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18), Sch. 9 para. 4(13)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C7",
      "text": "S. 42(3) excluded (23.2.2017) by High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act 2017 (c. 7), s. 70(1), Sch. 19 para. 1(13)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C8",
      "text": "S. 42(3) excluded (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 19 para. 1(13)"
    },
    {
      "type": "E",
      "label": "E1",
      "text": "This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/46/section/42",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:17:08.913274+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}