Firstly, there are no hard or fast rules regarding ghost-hunting, but some basic guidelines and common sense should be used in all aspects of your activities during a vigil or investigation. Here are some of those guidelines here for you to refer to.

• RESPECT THE AREA:: While i`m sure it does not have to be spelt out to anyone, you should always be aware of your surroundings during a vigil in respect to weather the area your in has Public access or is private property. We cannot condone trespass, or unlawful entry of property or land simply in the name of chasing ghosts, and its a good bet that the house or land owner, and the Police would likely view this in the same light. Please check your surroundings first before proceeding. Equally noise is also a factor. Be aware that many investigations will take place in areas well after 10pm and local people do not wish to be disturbed by a rowdy bunch of paranormal investigators in the middle of their evening. When using Digital Cameras or any 35mm camera, remember that the flash may go automatically depending on the lighting conditions. If unavoidable, please keep pictures in sensitive areas to a minimum.

• USE OF EQUIPMENT:: Ghost Hunt Team provides a walkie-talkie communication system for group members. DO NOT USE MOBILE PHONES to contact each other whilst on a vigil, ALWAYS use the walkie-talkie. Only use a mobile phone as a last resort ie: if the battery fails on the walkie-talkie or it goes out of range. Mobile calls can be expensive and unreliable, plus may contribute to disrupting ghost manifestations. Digital Camera users should try to take at least TWO or THREE pictures of the same subject matter. This aids in the filming of orbs and may possibly be used to track the paths of objects, orbs or mists. Camcorder users MUST maintain recording of ALL experiments. Do NOT film the team members unless told to, otherwise something important might be missed.

• TEAM ALLOCATION:: On arrival at the chosen location, if there are sufficient team members (ie: 4 or more persons) then the group will normally be split into two groups. Each group will have a GROUP LEADER who will decide on one person in the group to record events in writing on the clipboard, one person to film with camcorder and one person to take still pictures via Digital camera. If the group comprises of only two persons, the Group Leader will take over the camcorder or Digital picture recording.

• THE VIGILS:  FROM 1ST JULY 2008 ALL VIGILS ARE SUBJECT TO A £5.00 FEE PER PERSON, PER VIGIL. Basically, the purpose of each vigil is to record both via camera/camcorder and written account ANYTHING that the group either HEARS, SEE`S or FEEL`S (although DO NOT rule out both smell and touch!) for a specified time limit. The start time of the vigil MUST be noted first, then you record the events of the vigil, before finally closing the vigil and recording the finish time as well. At the end of each vigil, the whole group will meet-up again to discuss either the next location or information. On a vigil, you as Group Leader MUST make sure you check the following:
  a) That all group members have NOT taken alcohol, drugs etc - Any such member affected by these cannot be used as a reliable observer.
  b) That all group members have the correct equipment.
  c) That the group understands the nature of the location and what they are looking for.
  d) That the group SWITCHES OFF ALL MOBILE PHONES and only uses the walkie-talkie for contact purposes.
  e) That each group member adheres to the GHOST HUNT TEAM vigil rules.
  PLEASE NOTE: In the actual event that your group experiences something worthy of the whole groups` attention, notify the others by walkie-talkie IMMEDIATELY and await their arrival. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR LOCATION AND KEEP RECORDING EVENTS.
  In the event of ANY group member becoming injured, ill or generally unwell, let COLIN know. If a group member becomes lost or separated from the group, wait exactly where you are - each group will do a headcount at the end of the vigil, and anyone unaccounted for will be searched for.  VERY IMPORTANT: Notification of Vigil attendance must be given no later than TWO DAYS before the investigation. Any notice recieved within the two day limit will still be subject to the £5.00 vigil charge. Exceptions apply for illness, bereavement or accidents.

• FOOD, DRINK AND CLOTHING:: Vigils are not a place to show-off your latest designer gear!, ALWAYS wear something practical, warm and waterproof for both clothing and footwear. Food is NOT always provided by Ghost Hunt Team, therefore please bring your own food and also drink. Please DO NOT bring any alcolhol.

• MULTIPLE LOCATIONS: Some vigils will be in large or multiple locations, this could be anything from the different rooms of a house, to separate places in a village. The whole group WILL see all the available locations by rotation. These locations and the order they are visited will be decided upon arrival at the main location. A general meeting point will also be agreed upon.

• OTHER INVESTIGATION TEAMS: From time to time, we may encounter other teams of paranormal investigators at the locations we visit. Ghost Hunt Team DOES advertise our intention to visit a location within our own group and on this site, therefore everyone else should know we are there. Previous experience has taught us that local authorities turn a deaf-ear towards activities like ghost-hunting or even discourage it. If we encounter another group we may be asked to join them and pool resources - please notify COLIN any such offers. Ghost Hunt Team is actively working on a policy of Mutual-involvement with other groups in a bid to increase our chances of actually recording supernatural events.

• YOUR CLIPBOARD: Not only will your clipboard have a recording sheet on it, but you`ll also find a waterproof shield, extra recording sheets, maps, other important info and a nightlight attached to it as well. Please make good use of this clipboard, written accounts can sometimes say much, much more than any picture or film. IT IS VITAL THAT THE RECORDING SHEET IS FILLED IN COMPLETELY AND CORRECTLY.

• BE RATIONAL:: Not everything you see, hear, smell, touch or sense is paranormal!!! Think first: IS THERE A RATIONAL, LOGICAL EXPLANATION FIRST - DO NOT assume everything around you is from the World of spirit, its more likely to far more Earthbound...!!! To be safe, everything should be recorded on your clipboard, by camera or camcorder - just for the record. We also now have the beginnings of our first group Medium. It is VERY IMPORTANT that all information aquired by them is checked out for accuracy and for viability. It is not uncommon for a Medium to get nothing at all or be completely wrong, such are the faults of such a profression. Do not take everything the Medium says or gives as evidence of spiritual activity as being correct WITHOUT the back-up of photographic evidence (both DVD and Digital) or by an EMF meter sweep.

• DON`T BE DISAPPOINTED:: In nearly every case, every location you visit with a supposedly haunted reputation will fail to deliver the goods. Be patient - just because you don`t see anything or feel anything, does not mean you`ve not captured something on film, and vice versa. This is one reason for our various methods of recording vigils. Do not worry - just enjoy the experience.....

Many Thanks!!
THE GHOST HUNT TEAM