This evening the Bolton MRT attended the regular (Circa two to three times a year) Lancashire Constabulary Search and Rescue meeting, commencing at 18.30hrs at Lancashire Constabulary Force Headquarters, Strategic Command Centre, Hutton, Preston.

Held for a very long number of years, the meeting serves to bring together the MRTs and other search assets and agencies operating in Lancashire in a discussion forum with representatives from Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and NWAS (Lancashire).

The usual agenda items included member units updates, Incident Reviews, and items of mutual interest.
In the case of the MRTs attending, they are represented by their Team Leaders and other Team Officers involved in managing, coordinating and arranging emergency MRT responses.

Attending this evening were; Lancashire Constabulary, including their Civil Contingencies Unit and Inspector Steve Bradshaw, representing the Force Incident Managers, three Senior Officers from the Maritime and Coastguard, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Deputy Team Leader Chris Greenhalgh representing the interests of Bolton MRT, Team Leader Kev Camplin of Bowland Pennine MRT, Deputy Team Leaders Andy Simpson and Ted Handley of Rossendale and Pendle MRT, Phil James of the Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO), two Officers from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, a representative from the National Police Air Service NPAS 23 helicopter, operating out of BAE Systems Warton, and for the first time formally as a member of this meeting, a representative from Bay search and Rescue.

Apologies were received from NSARDA and NWAS (Lancashire)

The meeting was as usual, very productive with discussions on matters arising, Memorandums of Understanding, insurance cover being in place with regards to Cheshire Search and Rescue Team operating operationally in support of MRTs in Lancashire, Missing Person Search Manager training opportunities, the incoming SAR – H plan, and developments within LFRS and LFRS USAR.

Thanks are expressed to Inspector David Old of Lancashire Constabulary Civil Contingencies Unit for his excellent Chairmanship of this his first Search and Rescue meeting, since taking over the reigns from his now retired predecessor Inspector Neil Sherry.
Big thanks thanks as always to Alayne Anderson for her valued part in administrating the meeting, taking minutes (that always make sense despite all present using a whole range of acronyms, mostly unique to their organisations!)

The meeting concluded at 21.20hrs.

(Bolton MRT and Rossendale and Pendle MRT also attend the equivalent of this meeting in Greater Manchester, currently held three times a year under the auspices of the Greater Manchester Emergency Services Liaison Group meeting, alongside other MRTs who operate in Greater Manchester)