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 now 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, co-ordinating and arranging emergency MRT responses.

Attending this evening were; Lancashire Constabulary, HM Coastguard, two members of Bolton MRT (Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Deputy Team Leader Chris Greenhalgh), Bowland Pennine MRT, Rossendale and Pendle MRT, Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO), and NSARDA.

Apologies were received from Lancashire fire and Rescue service, NWAS (Lancashire) and the National Police Air Service helicopter NPAS 23 operating out of BAE Systems Warton.

The meeting was very productive with discussion on search protocols for the River Ribble and environs, insurance considerations, training opportunities and draft MoUs.

Thanks as ever are expressed to Inspector Neil Sherry of Lancashire Constabulary for Chairing tonight’s meeting, and for arranging the catering provided, thanks are also expressed to Alayne Anderson for her valued part in administrating the meeting.

Tonight’s meeting represented the last for Inspector Neil Sherry, who has Chaired these meetings for over seven years plus now, as he is due to retire from Lancashire Constabulary this summer after a long career and service with the Police.

(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)