Our latest Search Exercise
Operation Southam – Walstead - Sunday 26th April 2009
Lowland Search Dogs (Sussex) & Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Search Team - North.
Operation Southam took place on Sunday 26th April, 2009. It was a search exercise organised by PC Geoff Bennett of the Haywards Heath Neighbourhood Policing Team, designed to test and develop the search skills, map reading skills and long distance communication of the Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Search Team - North, and the Lowland Search Dogs (Sussex). The exercise was supported by officers from the Haywards Heath Neighbourhood Policing Team. Perfect weather conditions assisted the volunteers throughout the day.
The event was well attended with over 30 people from Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Search Team - North, and nine dogs and further volunteers from Lowland Search Dogs (Sussex).
Teams were briefed by trainer, PC Geoff Bennett, at Haywards Heath police station at around 9am, prior to their deployment.
The scenario was that a 35 year old local man, a keen ornithologist and walker, had been reported missing by his wife, as he had not returned home the night before. There was concern for him due to his existing medical conditions and the fact he could become disorientated through lack of medication.
Phase 1:
The Lowland Search Dogs (Sussex), conducted a 20km sweep ahead of Neighbourhood Watch route searchers, who were split into three teams, to cover footpaths running along the Sussex border path, from Sharpthorne through to Lindfield.
Phase 2:
Three additional Neighbourhood Watch search teams, supported by Lowland Search Dogs (Sussex), were deployed to Costells Wood, near Scaynes Hill, to conduct line and route searches.
Phase 3:
This phase took place in the afternoon and consisted of all six Neighbourhood Watch teams line searching nine areas of ancient woodland at Henfield Woods. Lowland Search Dogs (Sussex), were also deployed in this area. Shortly before 3pm one of the Neighbourhood Watch Search Teams found the 'missing' man, safe and well. He was located in a hollow in Henfield Woods.
The Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Search Team - North, currently has 94 active searchers, who can be called out via text messages, or e-mail, for live searches. The aim is to increase the pool of volunteers to 150.
Sgt Rachel Mundy said: "We very much appreciate the time given by volunteers, and for their dedication, commitment and enthusiasm on every search. They enable large scale searches for missing people to take place promptly, and they significantly boost the numbers of searchers looking for often very vulnerable missing people. The committee, meet regularly and are very effective in organising the operation and administration of the team."
Meridian News came along to the exercise and produced this report.
