The latest covid regulation guidance

[TheNCMD]

Introduction and the NCMD’s role

With the ever changing rules around covid in all 4 countries of the UK we think it's important to give you a guide to the latest legislation and advice for our hobby. As things change you can keep up to date with the latest information in the news section of our website www.ncmd.co.uk, our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/TheNCMD or at The Detecting Hub viewforum.php?f=53

We recognise some of these rules do not always make sense for our hobby but they are set to cover a wide range of activities. Remember t he NCMD does not write the rules and regulations for our hobby, our role is to provide advice and guidance on how these regulations affect our hobby so you can stay safe. Note we do not police the government’s regulations. People wishing to report breaches of the regulations should contact the police via the 101 telephone number. 

Northern Ireland - valid from 27 November until 10 December 2020

General guidance - You may detect locally on your own or with an unlimited number of people from your household or support bubble. Alternatively up to 15 people can meet outdoors, but you should maintain social distancing by being at least two metres apart, as well as good hand and respiratory hygiene practices. You should only detect locally, avoiding all unnecessary travel.  

Group digs - You may not organise, operate or participate in an indoor or outdoor gathering which consists of more than 15 people.

For more guidance https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/co ... -you#toc-1

England - from 2 December 2020

General guidance - You can detect alone or with members of your household and support bubble in all tiers (T1, T2 and T3) and on all types of land where you have permission.  For detecting with others we are now back to the Rule of Six. This applies both indoors and outdoors in T1, outdoors only in T2, and in T3 only in ‘outdoor public spaces’. There are presently no limits on the time that can be spent on outdoor recreation.



Club digs - Club digs can restart in T1 and T2 following the ‘Rule of 6’ as long as appropriate risk assessments are in place and followed. Participants and organisers still need to ensure social distancing is maintained at all times to minimise the risk of infection.
In T3 only digs in ‘public outdoor spaces’, such as beaches and parks (with permission), are allowed. 
To comply with the travel guidance in the Government’s Winter Plan, organisers will need to ensure any planned digs which could result in participants seeking to enter or leave T3 areas do not take place. Car sharing is not permitted in all tiers.
Businesses organising events have their own rules and should not take place in T3.

Travel - The Government is advising against all unnecessary travel into and out of T3 areas. In T1 and T2 long journeys should be avoided. 

For more information 

Dept. for Culture, Media and Sport’s Guidance for metal detecting during the pandemic https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-on ... g-covid-19
The Winter Plan  https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... inter-plan
Finding out more about tiers  https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local-restrictions

Scotland

General detecting - There is a 5-level system of local measures is now in place in Scotland. You can carry out metal detecting at all local protection levels (LPL). You can meet with others outside your household, but the numbers vary depending on which LPL you live in. The maximum number of people who can meet outdoors is:

LPL0 - 15 people from up to 5 separate households.
LPL1 - 8 people from up to 3 separate households.
LPL 2,3 & 4 - 6 people from up to 2 separate households.

This excludes children under 12 - for more information please see further guidance below. 

Travelling to detect into or out of Level 3 and 4 local authority areas is not allowed. 

Organised digs - Metal detecting clubs can organise events provided the number of attendees is limited to 30 and organisers ensure that a risk assessment is carried out, and everyone adheres to social distancing and hygiene requirements.

For more guidance

The local protection levels https://www.gov.scot/publications/coron ... s-by-area/

What you can and can’t do in each local protection level https://www.gov.scot/publications/coron ... s-by-area/

Wales 

General detecting - A maximum of 4 people from different households are allowed to meet to detect (not including any children under 11). There is no limit on the number of people from the same household or extended household able to spend time outdoors together to detect. You can detect wherever you have permission within Wales but cannot travel outside Wales (or from another country into Wales) to detect. 

Group digs and organised activities - Businesses and clubs may organise an activity, including metal detecting. A maximum of 30 people are able to participate in organised activities if they are outdoors. This number limit does not include any children under 11, or the event organiser(s) and anyone working or volunteering to facilitate the activity. These are maximum numbers and not targets. 

During these activities, people can gather from a mix of households only where there is sufficient space to undertake the activity as safely as possible. The organisers are responsible to undertake a risk assessment and  to ensure  measures are in place to prevent infection and the spread of coronavirus. 

More guidance 

Rules for meeting outside in Wales https://gov.wales/guidance-leaving-your ... tion-55526

[Saffron]

I had an e-mail from the NCMD today with details of the restrictions
With things seeming to change every other day I would like to say FANTASTIC great to be kept informed like this, and shows the value of the recent drive to get members e-mail details

Evan

[Steve RC]

Well its all change again so look forward to the next lot of confusion from the blond mop and his advisors.

[jcmaloney]

Well its all change again so look forward to the next lot of confusion from the blond mop and his advisors.

Tier 4 is simple.......... stay at home.

I don`t know why people don`t realise that the only way said virus moves is if we move it.

Human nature seems to have become so selfish that people spend time, energy and effort looking for loopholes rather than just doing just the necessities'.

[Easylife]

Tier 4 is simple.......... stay at home.

And there's a very strong chance of the entire UK being in tier 4 before Chistmas!

[jcmaloney]

January 30th is the next review.

Tier 4 will then be implemented in a far more widespread manner creating an effective UK wide lockdown for however long is needed. Expect around 2-4 weeks as Furlough now runs until April.

Nothing to do with "The Government" doing anything wrong, it`s just that a large chunk of the population don`t "get it" either through selfishness or stupidity.

[Steve RC]

That might well be the case ,but in Tier 4 you can still go horse riding and play golf....mmm How does that one fit in with your assessment ?

[Wardie1994]

That might well be the case ,but in Tier 4 you can still go horse riding and play golf....mmm How does that one fit in with your assessment ?

Think people struggle to realise that detecting is just a hobby, we don’t pay a yearly subscription where as fishing shooting etc do where the government make money from it so obviously they will be considered first

[Easylife]

Think people struggle to realise that detecting is just a hobby, we don’t pay a yearly subscription where as fishing shooting etc do where the government make money from it so obviously they will be considered first.

It's still a nice wedge in VAT from detector sales and accessories.

[tone]

Well if not detecting i'll be out with the gun then.

[Easylife]

Covid can't tell the difference between a gun and a detector. Maybe they should have based their rules on social distancing rather than specific sports or hobbies!

[tone]

Yes i wonder why they did that would it be because shooting and fishing have a much larger following than detecting or perhaps there as been some form of influence from another party.

[DaveP]

Fishing - £1.4 billion into the English economy.
Shooting - £2+ billion in to UK economy.

BASC membership for shooting - £82/yr and £30 for a rod licence. As I'm paying 12x what I pay for detecting I expect them to do something for me! Both Fishing and shooting have strong funded lobby groups and salaried jobs.

[Kenleyboy]

I cannot speak for the shooting fraternity but yes , angling has a lot of strong support groups , they certainly have their house in order .
I dont see this kind of support in metal detecting but angling has been around for centuries so has had plenty of time to establish itself where as the hobby of metal detecting is a relatively "new" pastime by comparison . Perhaps this is why it has unfortunately been shunted out of the limelight
My personal feeling are that I just cannot see why a lone detectorist cannot pursue his/her hobby out in a field miles from anywhere or anyone within their location but rules are rules and unfortunately we just have to go along with it until further notice .

[TheNCMD]

Actually angling and other fishing on private land is subject to exactly the same rules as detecting. The Angling Trust glosses over the detail but even their guidance still says ‘in public outdoor places’. They have chosen not to highlight the fact that on private land you are not permitted, according to the law, to fish on private land with others in tier 3, or at all in tier 4. The law is different for businesses operating fisheries, as it is for businesses operating golf clubs and other things. Driven and group shoots were also banned in lockdown and would be in tier 4.

The DCMS claim they have not bent to anyone/ any organisation on the law on the public accessing private land for recreation when there has been full lockdowns, and now in tier 3 and 4. More money for lobbying would have made no difference.

Merry Christmas all