Police train in Dartmoor search & rescue

Seventeen police officers recently completed a training exercise on Dartmoor to become lost person search managers. 

These officers are trained to find missing people quickly and safely, especially in challenging terrains and bad weather.

As part of the exercise, officers had to navigate through different real-life scenarios, deploying and managing resources for the search.

The scenarios included a person who was lost on the moors after going to a rave and taking drugs. 

A second scenario was to locate a person who had fallen off a rock edge and needed a rope rescue. 

Another was to locate a wild swimmer who had failed to return home.

The exercise involved over 140 searchers from different organisations, including the Rapid Relief Team providing food. 

This training helped ensure that officers can handle searches effectively, whether it's on moors, cliffs, or elsewhere.

Police Search Advisor, Richard Loxton, who supports the running of the course said: “Whilst we are lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful scenery with plenty of scenic walking routes in Devon and Cornwall, this does mean that every year, people are reported as lost. People become lost for a number of reasons, including errors in navigation, disorientation, and through worsened weather conditions. It’s vital for us to find people quickly to keep them safe, particularly during inclement weather conditions when lives can be at risk.”

Approximately three people are reported as a high-risk missing person every day to Devon & Cornwall Police. 

A high-risk missing person is where the risk of serious harm to the individual is likely - this can include a missing person who is suicidal, a young child, or an individual who has dementia.

The lost person search manager course, run by Devon & Cornwall Police, takes place once a year. In addition to the seventeen police officers trained, six people from partnership agencies, including HM Coastguard, were successful in passing the course.

The search and rescue exercise took place in Venford. 

Agencies involved include - Ashburton, Tavistock, North Dartmoor, Plymouth, East Cornwall and West Cornwall Mountain Rescue teams, Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England, Devon and Cornwall 4x4 response, HM Coastguard and Dartmoor National Park Authority.

The force has said: "You do not have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. It is not wasting police time to report someone missing. We are here to protect you and your loved ones. If the missing person is in immediate danger, is a young child or vulnerable to harm, call 999 now."