Search exercise planners handbook – Part Three

Once you have decided on potential search areas, based upon historic data etc. you then need to thing about the practicalities of the exercise. Issues like where will you run the search from? RVs, parking, welfare and so on.

Parking is always an issue when search volunteers are traveling from around the county to the exercise. You need to think about how many cars will be arriving and where to put them. Very few places will accommodate on-street parking for so many cars so local supermarkets, car parks etc. will need to be found.

Permissions need to be sought; for parking but also for search areas. This may mean visiting or phoning in advance and asking land owners, hospitals etc. for permission to exercise and mapping out where search managers can and cannot search and suitable RV points and Control Points. (Whilst these are generally close to each other, a couple of hundred metres between the two can be advantageous!)

You will also need to consider the local residents and neighbours. Whilst it is often great publicity for locals to see you out and about; this can turn against you if your exercise annoys or inconvenience them. Careful thought in advance about how to deal with this is important, and you may want to consider a letter to inform any really nearby neighbours what is happening. This is a good opportunity to inform them about what you do too.

The welfare of volunteers is important too. Many will have travelled for an hour or so, maybe straight from work so nearby toilet facilities are a big plus point.

The more you think about the practicalities beforehand – the smoother the exercise!

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November 2, 2009 · Robert Bradley · No Comments
Tags: ALSAR, Missing Persons Search, Publicity, SAR De-briefing, Search Areas, Search Control, Search Exercise, Search Exercise Planners Handbook, Search Training, Vulnerable Missing Person Search · Posted in: Search Thoughts, Search Training

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This month's feature is the Missing Rights Campaign being run by Missing People.

If your house is burgled you are automatically offered emotional, practical and legal support. If your child goes missing you may get nothing.

Missing People. are calling on the Government to give families of missing people the same basic rights as victims of crime.

Over 250,000 people go missing in the UK every year. While most of us will have read or heard about a disappearance, little is understood about the emotional, legal and financial burdens it can bring to those closest to the missing person. Families left behind face their homes being seized, jobs being lost, divorce, social stigma and suicidal thoughts.

Here are the detailed aims and objectives of the Missing Rights Campaign. Without your support, though, they will not be able to bring about change for families of missing people.

Aim #1:
Families of missing people should know everything possible is being done to find their missing loved one.

Objectives:
•Every region to have a local missing persons coordinator who will hold local services to account
•Every family to have a named single point of contact in the police force dealing with their missing loved one
•All unidentified bodies to be cross matched with missing person reports

Aim #2:
Families affected by a disappearance should have access to support.

Objectives:
•Every family of a missing person to be signposted to Missing People’s free emotional, practical and legal support services by the police
•A network of specially trained counsellors to be developed to support the unique needs of families of missing people

Aim #3:
Families left behind should be spared the pain of unnecessary financial and legal bureaucracy.

Objectives:
•All banks to introduce standard mortgage arrangements for families of missing people
•All insurance companies to enable families to freeze or take over their missing relative’s policy payments.
•Presumption of Death Act to be introduced in England of Wales

Robert Bradley's Re-Search Website

The bloke that knows sh!t loads of dead cool stuff about search…

Search exercise planners handbook – Part Three

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