WILSAR operate all over Wiltshire and occasionally the surrounding counties, supporting neighbouring teams. We are there to assist Wiltshire Police in the search for high-risk missing and vulnerable people. Examples of these are children, people with learning difficulties, depression, suicidal tendencies or the elderly with Alzheimer’s or dementia. We average one call out per week, some of which c
an be stood down after a few hours when the missing person is found safe and well, some searches may go on for several days. We also assist the Ambulance and Fire Service with incidents in remotes locations and during severe weather. Our 50-60 members are all trained in specialist search techniques and the discipline and respect required when handling missing people and their loved ones. We are all 100% volunteers and pay for our own fuel, kit and training. The team itself receives no government funding so we can only exist by our own fundraising and public donation. Our members, as with many of the other volunteer services in Wiltshire, seek no reward for what they do, just the feeling that they are doing something to help. In 2011 we received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and this year we proudly received the Wiltshire Police Chief Constable’s Certificate of Merit.
