Volunteers are encouraged to get onboard, with no previous experience needed
Humberside Search and Rescue is based within Humberside Fire and Rescue Service HQ in Hessle(Image: HUMBSAR)
A major new voluntary search and rescue has been launched in the Humber region. It brings together emergency services expertise and community volunteers to help locate vulnerable missing people across the area.
HFR Solutions CIC, in partnership with Humberside Police, has officially launched HUMBSAR (Humberside Search and Rescue): a dedicated voluntary lowland search and rescue capability that will support police-led searches and emergency response operations across Hull, East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
HUMBSAR is established under a formal Memorandum of Understanding with Humberside Police, clearly defining the team’s role, tasking arrangements, and operational integration, which distinguishes it from other volunteer search teams by ensuring it functions directly in line with the force’s needs.
Based within the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters in Hessle, HUMBSAR has been created to strengthen regional resilience and provide additional support during time-critical incidents involving missing vulnerable people.
The team will provide a 24/7, 365-days-a-year response capability, enabling Humberside Police to access trained volunteer search support whenever it is required.
The team will consist of specially trained volunteer Search Technicians who will assist Humberside Police in searches across urban areas, countryside, woodland and water margins.
Volunteers will receive nationally recognised training aligned to National Policing Search Standards and the National Police Concept of Operations.
Nick Granger, CEO of HFR Solutions CIC, said: “Establishing HUMBSAR is a significant step in enhancing the region’s resilience. By bringing together skilled volunteers and the emergency services, we are strengthening our collective ability to support vulnerable people when it matters most.
“Our formal Memorandum of Understanding with Humberside Police ensures HUMBSAR is fully aligned with policing requirements and provides a clear, professional and accountable framework for deployment. Our ambition is to deliver a reliable 24/7, 365-days-a-year capability that supports the police and protects our communities whenever the need arises.
“This initiative is about partnership, professionalism and community. We are incredibly proud to be working alongside Humberside Police to create something that will make a genuine difference across our region.”
HUMBSAR is now actively recruiting volunteers from across the Humber region. No previous search and rescue experience is required, with full training and ongoing support provided.
The initiative reflects HFR Solutions CIC’s ongoing mission to make the Humber region a safer place to live and work, while creating meaningful opportunities for local people to contribute directly to community safety.
HFR Solutions CIC and Humberside Police are encouraging local media outlets to feature the launch of HUMBSAR and help raise awareness of both the project and the volunteer recruitment campaign across the Humber region.
By supporting coverage of the initiative, media partners can help connect local people with an opportunity to make a real difference within their communities while strengthening awareness around missing person searches and community resilience.
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here .