No they cant not if your just walking the dog down the road with a normal torch however I got pulled local to me one night i dont have a torch so took my lamp with me and old bill came over blues on the lot i explained i do go out lamping but I'm simply walking my dog think it's more to do with where you are like if your walking through a farmers field and no permission to be there and there are hare round and your camo up then yeah you might end up in a bit of bother