Kent Search and Rescue (L)

About us

Kent Search and Rescue (Lowland) exists to offer a special service to the Police, RAF Search & Rescue Units, other emergency services and local councils throughout Kent, and the rest of the UK if called upon. The unit is operational 365 days a year. We are activated at the request of the police and other emergency organizations. This is achieved by a telephone call to our duty officer, who will in turn activate the members by way of a paging system.

On average 1800 people go missing in Kent every year, although they do not all require a full call out or search. We have a high percentage in the Kent area of people that can be classified as being vulnerable and will need our assistance. These include the elderly and those suffering from senile dementia and children that go missing for a number of reasons.

" Our aim is to search for those vulnerable people who may be in a life-threatening situation and respond quickly and efficiently to an emergency call.

" To alleviate the suffering and distress, not only to the missing person but to their families

" To reduce the pressures on manpower resources of the police and other emergency services.

Kent Search & Rescue (Lowland) are part of a larger organization known as ALSAR (Association

Of Lowland Search & Rescue). This body represents eleven Lowland Search & Rescue Units at the Mountain Rescue Council of England and Wales, the Government and Association of Chief Police Officers. At local level we have established excellent liaison links with the Kent Police Authority, Kent Ambulance Service, Kent Fire Service and HM Coastguard, and we are now registered with the County Emergency Planning Officer (CEPO) and included in the MEP.

The majority of our members live within the East Kent catchment area, however we have members that live further afield and can be called upon to assist in the outlying locations.

At present we have a Search Manager, having gained the qualification with the Mountain Rescue Council of England & Wales and the Emergency Response Institute (one of which is now Advanced Level) approx 25 Members are trained in basic search, radio communications and first aid.

Volunteers must be aged 18 years or over and have a reasonable level of fitness. They are subject to an internal interview and a formal police vetting and must sign a Confidentiality Agreement, prior to acceptance. Our members are drawn from various backgrounds; the work and life skills they bring to the group are also varied, some from the educational sector, others from the MOD and commerce.

Our members benefit from the training they receive with us and this can also support them in their work. Any member of the general public is allowed to apply, in this way we ensure a wide knowledge base, with everyone contributing to the management decisions and forward planning of the group. As soon as possible after acceptance, members undergo a high standard of training in basic search techniques and rescue first aid, and apart from exceptional circumstances, would not be able to attend line searches until this training has been undertaken.

A management team controls the search and rescue unit, consisting of a management coordinator and 4 departmental heads. These members have an equal say on policy and forward planning. Regular meetings of the whole group are held, and this consists of an equal mix of both training and social evenings. The majority of our training is held at weekends. Our future plans are to expand our training to a youth training policy and incorporate the American "Hug a Tree" concept as taught in many schools throughout the USA.

We take our commitment seriously and the following policies are in operation: -