Search and Rescue Team
The Police Service of Northern Ireland Search and Rescue Team's key roles are:
- Rural environment search for missing persons, particularly those considered high risk and vulnerable.
- Rescue of persons from hazardous terrain, particularly the mountain environment, crags or caves.
- Scene management and victim recovery from hazardous terrain where a fatality has occurred.
The team consists of 18 part-time members on 24 hour call-out availability and responds to call-out in all rural areas of Northern Ireland. We undertake approximately 70 tasks each year.
A dedicated training program includes all aspects of winter and summer mountain craft, caving, first aid, navigation and search management. Members are trained in 'Single Rope Technique' for cave rescue and 'Rigging for Rescue' for technical mountain rescue. Team members also have secondary roles such as: coxswain, victim recovery dog handler, police search advisor, drugs administrators and field search skills specialists.
We also provide a range of commercial industrial height access options to police staff required to work at height. Techniques available include: rope access, ladders, scaffolding platforms and mobile elevated working platforms.
Three 4x4 vehicles provide transport with a quad bike available for search. In addition, 6 metre RIBS (Rigid Inflatable Boats) and the police helicopter can be utilised for search.
The Police Service Search and Rescue Team works in conjunction with other rescue organisations from both statutory and voluntary agencies. These include partnerships with the Community Rescue Service, Foyle Rescue, Irish Cave Rescue Organisation, North West Mountain Rescue Team, Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, Search and Rescue Dogs (Ireland North), Lough Neagh Rescue and Sky Watch.
PSNI Search and Rescue TeamPSNI Lisnasharragh
42 Montgomery Road
Belfast
BT6 9LD
Telephone: 0845 600 8000
Email: searchandrescue@psni.pnn.police.uk
In an emergency dial 999
