This is an interesting article in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/aug/28/archaeology-amateur-rewriting-british-history

As I suspected, the Portable Antiquities Recording Scheme is having a positive effect on the relationship between archaeologists and responsible metal detectorists. It may even lead to overt official collaboration on a routine scale!

I can but hope for the sake of all ancient art lovers irrespective of which side of the fence they are on....