SEARCH TEAM
	INTERESTED IN JOINING?
For more information about our organisation, or if you wish to apply to join, please contact: Chris Burt Search Team (East Sussex) Manager, burt.cj@gmail.com 01273 471731
	SEARCH VOLUNTEERS
ARE YOU: - Minimum age 18? Physically fit? (Enough for countryside walks, maybe in adverse weather conditions and sometimes over difficult terrain.) Willing and able? (to give up some of your spare time, sometimes at short notice.)
		WHO ARE WE?
We are a Team of Neighbourhood Watch Search Volunteers based in East Sussex. We have been in operation since late 2007 and have 82 members. We are always looking for more volunteers! We are one of three similar groups active in Sussex, the others being North Downs and West Downs Search Volunteer Groups. WHY SEARCH? Each year a large number of people are reported missing. Happily, most are found safe and well by the Police, however, in some cases a person may be vulnerable and a large number of people are needed quickly to help support the Police in a search. In the past, with high profile cases such as Sarah Payne, Holly Wells & Jessica Chapman, volunteers always come forward willingly to assist, but unless there is coordination and structure, their efforts can actually hinder rather than help the situation.

STEP ONE	STEP TWO	STEP THREE
Attend your training: You will be required to attend an initial training course which will be conducted by Sussex Police. Usually held over one evening at Police HQ, the lesson includes all the relevant information, so that you can make the decision to become a fully fledged volunteer searcher. The classroom part deals with why we search, in what circumstances, the different forms of search we might be asked to carry out, search assets available to the Police and, importantly, our interaction with them. There is also a practical element so that you get the feel of what searching is all about and the ‘discipline’ involved. Once the initial course is completed and the forms are filled out there is additional training available for anyone wanting to become a Team Leader or First-Aider. Search exercises are held during the year in order to keep our skills active. Volunteers are asked to attend at least one day’s search in a 12 month period to remain on the ‘active’ list.	Get your ‘GO BAG’ ready: A ‘GO BAG’ is the kit you are advised to keep at the ready in case you are able to attend a call-out at short notice. Some of the recommended items to keep ready in your ‘GO BAG’ are listed below: Wet Weather outer garments. Torch (optional/some to be issued). Food & Drink. Flask. Hi-Visibility Vest (to be issued). Rucksack. Warm clothing. Robust footwear. Personal Resusiade kit (to be issued). Mobile ‘phone. Two-way Radio (to be issued). Emergency whistle (to be issued). Pen & Paper. Walking stick (broom handle). Loo roll. Gloves (to be issued). Safety glasses (to be issued). Suitable clothing (no shorts or short-sleeved tops).	On Call: With steps One and Two completed, you are now on call. Call-outs and details of a search operation will usually be notified to you by the Search Team Manager or his deputy in a one-to-one telephone call. How often you are called out can vary a great deal. You may not be called out for some months, and then one or two call-outs may come along in quick succession. There is also no set pattern as to which day of the week you might be called out to attend a search operation, but our Search Exercises will be scheduled to take place over a weekend. (Details of exercises are usually notified via E-mail or text well in advance.) It is appreciated that you may not be able to spare the time to attend each and every call-out to attend a search.

	To display leaflet in PDF form click here
	To display Search Team reports click here
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