Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Search and Rescue Squad | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1957 - present |
| Country | Australia |
| Agency | Victoria Police |
| Type | Search and Rescue |
| Part of | Specialist Response Division[1] |
| Headquarters | Williamstown |
| Abbreviation | SAR |
| Structure | |
| Sworn officers | 21[2] |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Inspector Greg Barras |
| Notable commanders |
|
The Search and Rescue Squad is the Search and Rescue unit of Victoria Police and provides specialist expertise, advice and practical assistance in land search and rescue.[3] This expertise covers most terrains including snow and vertical cliff search and rescue.[3]
The Search and Rescue Squad was formed in 1957 after several unsuccessful searches for missing persons in remote areas of Victoria. Initially the squad consisted of five men with considerable bush experience, who controlled and coordinated bush searches. When not engaged in searches these members performed general police duties.[3]
In 1958 members were trained in diving by the Royal Australian Navy, and from this time onward the squad became responsible for underwater searches. These searches included the search and recovery of deceased persons, stolen property, weapons, court evidence, motor vehicles and other objects. The squad became fully operational in 1962 in response to the increasing demand for its services.[3]
Search operations
The squad's duties include:[3]
- underwater diving
- bush search and rescue
- snow search and rescue
- mountaineering
- navigation
- cliff rescue and airborne operations.
- searching ship hulls for drugs
- investigating diving fatalities
- retrieving submerged cars, exhibits or bodies from rivers and lakes.
Rescue operations
The Search and Rescue Squad provide assistance in land, snow and vertical cliff search and rescue. The Rescue Coordination Centre provides the squad with information on the location and assistance required. It is the squad's responsibility to provide the necessary equipment depending on whether it is a land, water, snow or vertical cliff rescue.[3]
Operational support
The Search and Rescue Squad sometimes works with other Emergency Response Division Squads, such as the Air Wing to assist in searching and transporting members to isolated locations.[3] The squad also coordinates the activities of specialist volunteer groups such as Bush Search and Rescue Victoria and the State Emergency Service in the field.
Demonstrations and protests
During planned lengthy or potentially violent public demonstrations, Search and Rescue can be deployed to remove large or solid objects that have been positioned to obstruct operational police members. Search and Rescue has also assisted in the removal of forest demonstrators who have positioned themselves in trees or attached themselves to tree-removing equipment.[3]
Training support for operational members
Search and Rescue assists local operational police by providing advice and formal training in bush craft, map reading and navigation.[3]