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).

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, POLSAs and Inspector Steve Bradshaw, representing the Force Incident Managers, an Officer from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Deputy Team Leader Chris Greenhalgh representing the interests of Bolton MRT, Team Leader Kev Camplin and Simon Harris of Bowland Pennine MRT, Deputy Team Leader Andy Simpson and Assistant Team Leader Ivy Limbrick of Rossendale and Pendle MRT, Phil James of the Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO), an Officer from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, two representatives from the National Police Air Service NPAS 23 helicopter, operating out of BAE Systems Warton, a representative from Bay Search and Rescue and a member of the North West Police Underwater Search and Marine Unit.

Apologies were received from NSARDA and NWAS (Lancashire)

The meeting was as usual, very productive with discussions on matters arising, the future format and contents of this meeting, information about ‘Resilience Direct,’ new initiatives within LFRS and their relationship to NWAS, member units updates, Incident Reviews, and items of mutual interest.

Thanks are expressed to Inspector David Old of Lancashire Constabulary Civil Contingencies Unit for his excellent Chairmanship of this his second Search and Rescue meeting, since taking over the reigns last September from his now retired predecessor Inspector Neil Sherry.

Big thanks thanks as always to Alayne Anderson for her valued part in administrating the meeting and taking minutes.

The meeting concluded at 21.15hrs.

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