Select Committee on Transport Written Evidence


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.


 
previous page contents next page

House of Commons home page Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries index

© Parliamentary copyright 2005
Prepared 7 June 2005