Memorandum by the Secretariat of the UK
Search and Rescue Strategic Committee (SAR 13)
SEARCH AND RESCUE
INTRODUCTION
1. The UK Search and Rescue Strategic Committee
is an inter-Agency and national forum with responsibility for
advising Ministers on the structure, scope and framework of the
organisation of UK search and rescue (SAR). This Memorandum sets
out the management framework for SAR in the United Kingdom.
2. The organisation for SAR in the UK is
an amalgam of civil, military, maritime, aeronautical and land
based assets involving separate Government Departments, the emergency
services and other organisations. These include a number of charities
and voluntary organisations who play a significant role in providing
a national SAR capability.
3. A description of the management structure
for the activity of locating and recovering persons who are in
distress, potentially in distress or missing and delivering them
to a place of safety is provided by the Search and Rescue Framework
for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
published in June 2002. An electronic copy accompanies this Memo.
THE UK SAR COMMITTEE
STRUCTURE
4. The UK SAR Committee structure is shown
in Annex A. There are two Consultative Committees: one comprising
the wide range of nautical and aeronautical interest groups; and
the other the wide range of inland interest groups who represent
those who may require the assistance of the search and rescue
services. The Consultative Committees have links with the UK SAR
Operators Group which is made up of representatives of national
organisations whose members and employees provide search and rescue
services.
5. The objectives of the Operators Group
are to consider the views of the Consultative Committees and advise
and make recommendations to the UK SAR Strategic Committee under
whose aegis it operates.
6. The membership of the Strategic Committee
is confined to those with strategic and policy responsibilities
within those organisations that contribute significantly to UK
search and rescue (see Annex B). The main objectives of the Committee
are to:
(a) develop criteria for the coverage, responsiveness
and availability of search and rescue services;
(b) offer views to Ministers on improving
search and rescue capability, effectiveness and co-operation;
and
(c) Promote effective and efficient co-operation
between the various Government Departments, the emergency services
and other organisations for the provision of an effective search
and rescue service at a national and, where appropriate, international
level.
7. The Department of Transport Chairs and
provides the Secretariat for the Strategic Committee and the Maritime
and Coastguard Agency Chairs and provides the Secretariat for
the Operators Group.
DIVISION OF
UK SAR RESPONSIBILITY
8. A detailed account of the search and
rescue responsibilities, the management framework and a description
of the participating organisations and resources for UK search
and rescue can be found in the Framework Document. Below is a
brief resume.
9. Responsibility for civil aeronautical
and maritime SAR policy rests with the Department for Transport
and derives from the UK Government's adherence to the Convention
on the High Seas (1958), the Convention on Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS) (1974), the Maritime Search and Rescue Convention (1979)
and the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago 1944).
The UK responsibility for search and rescue measures for ships,
aircraft and persons, whether civilian or military, covers the
UK SAR Region. A map depicting the Region is provided at Annex
C.
10. The responsibility for the co-ordination
of land-based and inland water SAR rests with the Police Service
and is derived from their duty to protect life and property.
11. As an executive agency of the Department
for Transport, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) provides
a response and co-ordination service for maritime search and rescue.
The Ministry of Defence provides declared search and rescue facilities
to cover military operations, exercises and training with the
UK Search and Rescue Region. Although these resources are established
for military purposes, it is the Ministry's policy to render assistance
whenever possible to other persons, aircraft or vessels in distress.
12. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution
is a voluntary organisation incorporated by Royal Charter for
the purpose of saving lives and promoting safety at sea and on
certain inland waters. It does this by providing and maintaining
a fleet of inshore and all weather lifeboats located at strategic
locations as determined by the Institution's Committee of Management.
The RNLI reserves the right to direct its own assets, co-ordinated
by the responsible authority.
13. The Police Service, through its command
infrastructure, co-ordinates land-based and inland water search
and rescue operations, providing co-ordination of all emergency
services and other authorities where appropriate. Each Fire Authority
in the UK has the power to use the resources of its Fire and Rescue
Services, primarily provided for fighting fires, to deal with
other emergencies. These may include maritime, aeronautical and
land-based search and rescue operations. It is for each Fire Authority
to set its own policy with regard to SAR operations and these
vary around the UK. Land ambulances may in some areas be complemented
by Helicopter Emergency Medical Service assets which may assist
in search and rescue tasks in circumstances that are compatible
with the type and operating limitations of the aircraft.
14. There are several voluntary organisations
that provide search and rescue services on land. These include
the Mountain Rescue Councils and Committees, the British Cave
Rescue Council and the members of the Association of Lowland Search
and Rescue.
SUPPORTING SERVICES
15. A number of other bodies may also be
involved in a search and rescue incident either because of their
proximity to it or because of the information that they may be
able to provide. For example, masters of vessels at sea, lighthouse,
harbour and pilotage authorities, local authorities and beach
lifeguards, and offshore oil and gas operators.
16. Liaison with neighbouring countries
is maintained to ensure co-operation in search and rescue operations.
The United States Air Force squadron based at RAF Mildenhall,
Suffolk provides search and rescue cover for US military forces
in Europe. Subject to military requirements, the unit can furnish
assistance to the UK for search and rescue activities.
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