DATELINE: 12th April 2001

AMNESTY RESPONSE
Divers and diving clubs are participating in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Wreck Amnesty in increasing numbers, Receiver of Wreck Veronica Robbins has told Divernet. Although she would not disclose figures, she said the amnesty had received a "tremendous response" and that "already many finders, particularly divers, have submitted declarations".
The Wreck Amnesty was launched in January to run for three months. Divers and others who hold illegally unreported finds have until 24 April to complete and return a Report of Wreck form, thousands of which have been circulated by the MCA to diving organisations and other bodies. Veronica Robbins was expecting the numbers of reports to "accelerate rapidly" as the amnesty entered its middle and later stages.
In many of the reports made so far, clubs have reported wreck held by the group as a whole, as well as items in the possession of individual members, said Robbins. For instance, one report form returned by a diving club contained 23 separate finds declarations.
"Not many clubs realise that each member is liable for wreck material that has not been reported to the Receiver, and the penalties [outside of the amnesty] can be severe," said a statement from the Receiver's office.
Robbins stressed that it was important for divers and other holders of illegally unreported finds to take the opportunity offered by the amnesty. "We won't be able to do this again, and holders of finds should understand that our stated intention to act against miscreants once the amnesty is over is not an idle threat," she told Divernet. Confirming Robbins' stance, a source with an MoD police contact said: "Enforcement will be intelligence-led, and the police have been gathering evidence on illegally held finds, with a fair amount of information coming from divers themselves. "Post-amnesty, the message will indeed be that, if you know people who have acted illegally, report it."
The Receiver's office undertakes to acknowledge each submission within 30 days. Finds are being prioritised for subsequent action in settling rights of ownership and where they should end up. Cases involving potentially dangerous munitions, items of archaeological importance, or those where there appears to be a good chance of locating the rightful owner, are given the highest priority.
Salvage awards for finders, normally allowed by the law on finds, do not apply to finds reported late under the amnesty, which already provides protection from prosecution.
Details: Receiver of Wreck, MCA, Southampton, 023 8032 9474/9476; www.mcga.gov.uk/amnesty

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