Nighthawking is a term used in the United Kingdom to describe illegal metal detecting on farmland, archaeological sites and other areas of archaeological interest, usually in order to steal coins and other artefacts for their historical and financial value.   Nighthawking refers to the fact that such illegal activity is often undertaken at night to avoid detection and arrest although this is deceiving as it also occurs during the day.  It can occur anywhere in the country especially in areas with a rich heritage and large amounts of arable land.  If you believe that illegal metal detecting is taking place on land in our area, please ring 101 to report.