Thanks to Dean for sharing details of the Isle of Wight Search and Rescue (WightSAR) who are providing a hugely valuable service on the Isle of Wight. Ed
Isle of Wight Search and Rescue (WightSAR) provide skilled volunteers to assist Hampshire Constabulary and other agencies in searches for vulnerable missing persons on the Isle of Wight and the rest of the UK if their assistance is called upon.
The unit is operational 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
Formed following major search
The team was formed in 2008 following a major missing person search in Parkhurst Forest.
This presented a number of issues for Hampshire Search and Rescue (HANTSAR); it took almost three hours to deploy from the Mainland and also at significant cost for ferry travel for search teams involved in the search.
27 members
For three years the Island team operated under HantSAR until November 2011 when we formed our independent unit WightSAR.
At present we have 27 team members trained to various levels from Search Technician to Search Controller.
Full checks and training
Any volunteer applying for membership into Isle of Wight Search and Rescue (WightSAR) is required to have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Check and also have to complete a Search Training course approved by the Association of Lowland Search and Rescue (ALSAR) as well as completing an assessment before becoming operational.
The requirement for a specialised lowland search team on the Island is verified from the statistics.
Above average vulnerable population
The Island has an above average percentage of people that can be classified as being vulnerable.
These include the elderly and those suffering from depression, alzheimers and children that go missing for a number of reasons.
According to the NPIA over 7000 are reported missing in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region every year. Approximately 80% of the people missing return home or are located in the first 24 hours, however the rest are missing for a longer period which can be very distressing for their families.
Assistance from the Isle of Wight Team has been called on from Wiltshire, Berkshire Surrey and Sussex, so far this year as well as Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police.
If you’re interesting in joining WightSAR, email [email protected]
