This is our archive of news, press releases and operational activities from the calendar year 2008, displayed with the most recent first. You can look at our very latest news by clicking here.
Summary of the year:
In-county callouts = 9
Out of county callouts = 4
Total callouts = 13 (+ 7 standby's)
[28/12/08] SusSAR Callout
The Unit was called out at 0530 this morning by Sussex Police
to search for a elderly vulnerable missing person in a residential urban
area of Eastbourne. Nine members of the Unit were deployed and the individual
was safely located at approximately 0800hrs by a member of the public.
[11/12/08] Training Evening
Based at Ricardo's, Shoreham Airport.
[23-24/11/08] SusSAR Callout
The Unit has been out for the last two days, involved in a search
for a missing person in the Bexhill area. Working alongside our colleagues
from Lowland Search
Dogs Sussex, we deployed over 30 personnel for the search.
[22/11/08] Mountain Bike
Team Training Day
Sussex Search and Rescue
is leading the way in developing the use of mountain bikes in Lowland
Search. Our trained members are equipped with the range skills needed
to use our fleet of bikes that travel to all searches
in our Support Vehicle.
[13/11/08] Training Evening
This months training was based at Ricardo's, Shoreham Airport,
and was attended by over two dozen members. The focus of the training
was to practise the handling and treatment of Missing Person's in different
scenarios, and also some refresher training on the use of our Search Support
Vehicle and setting-up of all associated equipment.
[22/10/08] SusSAR Callout
The Unit was called out at 1230 today by Sussex Police to search
for a vulnerable missing person in the Littlehampton area. We put a number
of teams on the ground during 8 hours of searching, receiving support
from colleagues in Hampshire
SAR, Kent SAR
and Lowland Search
Dogs Sussex.
[09/10/08] Training Evening
Our training evening for October took place on the Downs near Lancing.
Over 20 foot searchers were involved, with the focus being fast route
and path searching with practice of navigation skills at night.
[23/09/08] SusSAR continue
search for missing person
Supported by foot teams from Hampshire SAR, Kent SAR, and dog
support from SARDA
Meridian and Lowland
Search Dogs Sussex, we have spent the day searching for the missing
Storrington man, Alfred Clarke. Our thanks go to the Search and Rescue
units from other counties who helped support one of the largest search
efforts that SusSAR has ever suplied to Sussex Police.
[22/09/08] SusSAR Callout
The Unit has been called out this evening to assist in a search
for a missing person in the Storrington area. We have requested support
from our colleagues from Hampshire
SAR, and dog support from Lowland
Search Dogs Sussex and Berkshire
Search and Rescue Dogs.
[11/09/08] Training Evening
Our September training was based at Ricardo's in Shoreham with a 'missing
person' search along the banks of the River Adur and the Downslink cycle
path. Over 20 foot searchers and our MTB team were involved.
[21/08/08]
SusSAR on Standby
The Unit was put on Standby this morning to search for a missing woman in the Crawley area. We were stood down before attending.
[16/08/08]
SusSAR assist Hampshire Search and Rescue in Missing Person search
A number of our members responded to a request for support from Hampshire Search and Rescue in a search for an elderly missing person in the Fritham area of the New Forest.
[14/08/08]
Training Evening
This month's training evening took place at Withdean Stadium in Brighton and involved a search scenario for five missing people. Over 30 members of the Unit were involved.
[09/08/08]
SusSAR on Standby
The Unit was put on Standby this afternoon to search for a missing 9 year old boy in Burgess Hill. We were stood down before attending after the child was found safe and well.
[19/07/08]
SusSAR on Standby
The Unit was put on Standby this evening for a search near Heathfield, East Sussex but stood down
before attending.
[10/07/08]
Training Evening
This month's training was a practical search-based
activity at Chanctonbury Ring, near Steyning. We welcomed a number
of new probationary
members to the event and provided them the opportunity to experience
the process of a real life search.
[01/07/08]
SusSAR Callout
The Unit was called out this
morning to assist in a search in the Horsham area. The Unit was stood
down before arriving at the RVP when the Missing Person was located.
[28-29/06/08] SusSAR in
Missing Person search
We have been supporting Sussex Police in a two day missing person
search.
[28/06/08]
SusSAR in Missing
Person search
We were called out to search for a missing 34 year old woman in Sheffield
Park, East Sussex. Working alongside our colleagues from Neighboourhood
Watch Teams, a large area of woodland and parkland was searched over
several hours, and the woman was eventually located deceased.
[12/06/08]
AGM
A new committee were elected into post at our Annual General Meeting.
The incoming committee members briefed the Unit on the aims and objectives
for coming year which included our plans for furthering the professional
development of our current membership, fundraising and attracting
new recruits to the Unit.
[25/05/08]
SusSAR in Missing
Person search
Today we were called out to search for a missing 43 year old woman
who disappeared from a Festival in Loxwood. Working closely with Lowland
Search Dogs (Sussex) the team deployed 3 foot teams
and one mountain bike team and two dog teams scouring residential
properties and a variety of fields, woodland and water courses. The
woman was eventually located safe having returned to her home address.
[08/05/08]
Training Evening
This month's training evening was based at our
storage and vehicle parking facility at Ricardo's in Shoreham Airport.
It was a chance for some revision of our communications procedures
and a look at the way in which we deploy our Search Support Vehicle
at callouts.
[01/05/08]
SusSAR in Missing
Person search
Tonight our Unit attended a search for a vulnerable Missing Person
near Battle, East Sussex. The individual was succesfully located in
the early hours of the morning.
[10-12/04/08]
SusSAR host UK Lowland
Search Institute training weekend
We were delighted to welcome
visiting Lowland Search teams from across the UK to a training event
hosted by us in the Crawley area. During the weekend over 50 search
personnel took part in Search Technician, Tracking and Team Leader
courses.
[10/04/08]
Training Evening
This month's training evening was a practical
search-based activity at Devil's Dyke near Brighton and a great opportunity
for our members attending UKLSI
assessment courses at the weekend to hone their skills.
[05/04/08]
SusSAR on Standby
The Unit was put on Standby
this morning to assist our colleagues in Wlitshire
Search and Rescue. The Unit were stood down before attending when
the missing persons were located safe and well.
[30/03/08]
SusSAR and Lowland
Search Dogs (Sussex) joint exercise
This full day exercise, using
challenging terrain within the Angmering Estate, was aimed at developing
the way in which our foot and bike team searchers work alongside the
resources of Lowland
Search Dogs (Sussex). The scenario of a light aircraft crash was
used to provide the teams with a number of 'missing persons', all
of which were found by a combination of searching techniques.
[15/03/08]SusSAR on Standby
The Unit was put on Standby
this morning to assist Lowland
Search Dogs (Sussex) in a SEBEV
search in the area of Windsor Great Park. The Unit were stood down
before attending when the missing person was located safe and well.
[13/03/08]
Training Evening
For this month's training we welcomed a guest
speaker who gave an enlightening and very informative talk on the
subject of risk management and stress prevention. The health, safety
and well being of our members is a key priority for the Unit and the
presentation underlined the importance of the procedures that we have
in place.
[08/03/08]
SusSAR assist Hampshire
Search and Rescue in Missing Person search
A number of our members responded to a request for support from Hampshire
Search and Rescue in a search for a vulnerable missing person
in the Romsey area.
[02/03/08]
SusSAR respond to
request for assistance
Lowland
Search Dogs (Sussex) requested the support of a small number of
BST qualified Sussar personnel to act as support for a call to Welwyn
Garden City, Herts.
[23/02/08]
SusSAR on Standby
The Unit was put on Standby
this evening as Sussex Police responded to reports of two missing
children in the Polegate area. The children were located safe and
well as the callout procedure was in progress, and the Unit were stood
down.
[21/02/08]
Training Evening
For our February training, we were delighted
to visit the base of our colleagues at Lowland
Search Dogs (Sussex) for an excellent training presentation on
the use of scenting dogs in Lowland Search. The ideas and discussions
that followed will no doubt enhance the way in which our two Units
work together in future shared callouts.
14/02/08]
SusSAR respond to
request for assistance
Lowland
Search Dogs (Sussex), attending a search in Titchfield (Hants),
requested the support of a Team Leader from SusSAR. A member of the
Unit was duly dispatched, but stood down en route when the Misper
was found safe and well.
[09/02/08]
Mountain Bike Team Training Day
Sussex Search and Rescue
is leading the way in developing the use of mountain bikes in Lowland
Search. Our trained members are equipped with the range skills needed
to use our fleet of bikes that travel to all searches
in our Support Vehicle.
[10/01/08]
Training Evening
This month our training evening took place on
the Downs to the north of Worthing, with the focus of the training
being a refresher and update on our communications procedures and
our hasty 'route and path' searching. We were delighted to welcome
a number of new 'Probationary' members to the evening - a result of
our recent recruitment drive.
[10/01/08] SusSAR on Standby
The Unit was put on Standby at 15.00hrs as Sussex Police responded
to a Missing Person report in the Henfield. area. The Unit was stood down
shortly afterwards when the individual was located safe and well.