Magnet fishing is a hobby where people use high-powered magnets to retrieve metal objects from rivers, canals and lakes.
The activity has surged on social media in recent years, but it can also lead to alarming discoveries, from firearms to suspected explosive devices requiring police intervention.
FOI data obtained by Mountain Skip Hire from Cambridgeshire Constabulary shows 29 magnet-fishing-related incidents recorded between 2022 and September 2025.
After a drop in 2023, activity has risen again, with seven incidents recorded in 2025, more than any year since 2022.
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Weapons, suspicious devices and concern reports logged
Across the four-year period, police recorded:
- 4 firearms-related incidents (2022 and 2024)
- 5 bomb or suspected explosive device incidents (2022, 2024, 2025)
- 8 suspicious circumstances reports
- Multiple cases involving found property or concern for safety
In total, 15 incidents in 2022, 3 in 2023, 4 in 2024, and 7 in 2025 (up to 30 September) were linked to magnet fishing. All 5 bomb/suspected explosive device incidents had EOD attend for disposal.
Peterborough and Huntingdon are the county’s main hotspots
Location data shows magnet-fishing incidents spread across much of Cambridgeshire, with notable concentrations in:
- Peterborough – 11 incidents
- Huntingdon – 7 incidents
- Cambridge – 5 incidents
- South Cambridgeshire – 3 incidents
- Fenland – 2 incidents
- East Cambridgeshire – 1 incident
Peterborough consistently reported magnet-fishing callouts in every year of the dataset, while Cambridge saw a resurgence in 2025.
Speaking on the findings, Colin Hill from Mountain Skip Hire said: “Magnet fishing remains popular across Cambridgeshire, but the data shows just how unpredictable the finds can be.
“People are pulling up everything from scrap metal to firearms and suspected explosive devices, and that presents real risks both to the public and emergency services.
“We encourage anyone involved to follow safety guidance, report anything suspicious immediately, and make sure all recovered items are disposed of responsibly at licensed recycling centres.”
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