Liphook Community Magazine Spring 2018

H A M P S H I R E S E A R C H A N D R E S C U E
We Need People Like You!
Search and rescue is not just the domain of helicopters and
Mountain Rescue teams. Did you know that Hampshire has its
own search and rescue team?
Hampshire Search and Rescue (HANTSAR), a registered charity,
is one of many Lowland Rescue teams throughout the country
which provide professionally trained volunteers to assist the
police with searches for vulnerable missing people (such as children,
the elderly or despondent). We are well-equipped with a control
vehicle, support vehicles and the necessary computer and
communications equipment to run an effective search.
Search
We are called by the police when they need extra assistance in
searching for a high risk missing person. A callout is initiated
and members start heading out to a rendezvous point where we
set up our command post.
Training and Navigation
We train up to four times a month in order to maintain and
improve our competences in skills such as search techniques,
first aid, navigation, radio operation, scene of crime procedures
and river bank searching. We also have a specialist water
response team and are developing a team using Remotely Piloted
Aircraft Systems, more commonly known as ‘Drones’. We are
available for callout 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever the
weather. Callouts occur at any time of day or night but of course
not everyone is able to attend every time.
Our team covers the whole of Hampshire and, when requested,
assists the teams from neighbouring counties. Since our formation
in late 2003 we have responded to over 550 requests for
assistance by the police. In 2016 we had 62 callouts and in 2017
the number was 54. Slightly lower, and probably a good thing.
Casualty Recovery
Control Vehicle
One of our Search Planners will decide which areas need to be
searched and which have highest priority. This is a skilled task
which takes into account missing person behaviour statistics as
well as personal information about the person who is missing.
Searchers are then divided into teams of between three to six
people, each with a Team Leader. The teams are dispatched to
their areas where they begin searching. There are two possible
outcomes: either the missing person is found or, having
completed the search of their area, the team reports back to the
control vehicle for re-assignment.
Our Fleet
24