ALSAR and the media

Yesterday I wrote about a Hantsar callout. I included a link to a news article on the search. Although I’d read the article I foolishly hadn’t scrolled down to the comments section.

Every newcomer to lowland search is given the same training in dealing with the media – we don’t talk to them about specific incidents – during or after the event, ever!

The media have a massive role to play in the search for missing persons, no question, but they need to be handled by specialists. The police employ such specialists and spend vast amounts of money teaching their senior officers how to speak to the media. ALSAR volunteers, in general, aren’t specialists, nor have they undertaken training in how to deal with the media.

Hence they are taught – “you will need to speak to the police” as a suitable response to media questioning. UKLSI recently added to their search courses that not only do we do this when asked in person, but that we NEVER, EVER, comment on media reports online.

Unfortunately volunteers do not always take in their training, or think that it doesn’t apply to them. Hence some unfortunate commenting that went on by ALSAR and LSDogs members on that article [that has since been removed at their request].

So a brief, but important reminder for all lowland search volunteers. DO NOT speak to the media about specific incidents, DO NOT comment on public websites [and that includes this one!] about any specific incident, in fact just DO NOT talk about any specific incident outside of your Unit!

Search volunteers, whilst unpaid, are professionals. Think of yourself as a professional – whether you are recognised as such or not – and act accordingly.

PS As I’m not an operational search volunteer I am, of course, available to news editors, journalists and so on for expensive search expertise comment on any search incident!

November 17, 2009 · Robert Bradley · No Comments
Tags: ALSAR, Hantsar, Lowland Search, LSDogs, Media, Missing Persons, Police, Search Expert, UKLSI · 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

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

ALSAR and the media

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